5 arrested in connection with journalist’s murder in Madhubani

Five persons, including a nurse have been arrested by Madhubani police in Bihar, in connection with the murder of Right to Information (RTI) activist and journalist Avinash Jha. He was found dead on Saturday, after he went missing four days ago.

Jha had been exposing the illegal activities of nursing homes in Benipatti, of Madhubani district and is said to have been murdered by those involved in the illegal activities.

Jha’s family members and friends are upset that the police said that he had died after a broken love affair.

This morning members of the public organised road block in Benipatti, demanding justice for Jha and seeking an apology from the police for trying to give Jha’s death a different angle.

Jha went missing since November 9 and his partially burnt body was found stuffed in sack and thrown in Uren village. After he went missing, his brother filed a complaint with the police alleging that Jha had been kidnapped and had named several nursing homes and hospitals blaming them for his kidnapping.

Jha’s expose had led to the closure of some ‘fake’ clinics. He is said to have received threats, after attempts to buying out failed. Two days before he went missing, he had named several private hospitals on Facebook.