Dreaded gangster Santosh Jha shot dead inside court premises in Bihar

PATNA: Gangster Santosh Jha was shot dead inside the court premises in Sitamarhi in Bihar on Tuesday. Jha had been brought to court by the police for hearing in a case. He was shot at by an unidentified man while he was entering the court premises. Jha was accompanied by a policeman who was walking behind him. 

The unidentified man fled the scene soon after he opened fire.

"One person has been arrested and interrogation is underway. A court employee has been injured and Santosh Jha has been killed. 2-3 are expected to be involved in the firing," Sitamarhi Superintendent of Police Vikas Burman told news agency ANI.

Santosh Jha, a history-sheeter, was lodged in jail for his alleged role in the killing of the two engineers on December 26 in Darbangha in Bihar for extortion. The dreaded gangster had been serving a life sentence for the murders. 

The engineers of the private road construction company -- Brajesh Kumar and Mukesh Kumar -- were shot dead by unidentified assailants on Darbhanga-Kusheshwarsthan State highway in Darbhanga district on December 26. Non-payment of levy was said to be the motive behind the murder.

The Darbhanga killings had triggered widespread criticism and the BJP had raised the issue of deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.