'Sexually harassed' woman stabs Purnea MLA to death

PURNEA: Ruling BJP MLA from Purnea Raj Kishore Keshari was today stabbed to death at his residence here allegedly by a woman who had earlier accused him of sexual harassment.
Keshari, 51, a four-time MLA, was meeting visitors of his constituency at his Sipahi Tola residence here this morning when the woman Rupam Pathak stabbed him, badly damaging his spleen, Director General of Police (DGP) Neelmani said in Patna.
The profusely bleeding MLA was rushed to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to his injuries, doctors attending on him said.
Visitors assembled at the MLA's residence caught hold of Pathak and thrashed her severely before handing her over to police. Police got the injured Pathak admitted to a government hospital where her condition was stated to be critical, Neelmani said.
Pathak, a school teacher, had last year accused Kesri of raping her and had lodged a case againt him. In her First Information Report (FIR), Pathak had alleged that Kesri and his men had raped her for a period of three years.
Shocked at the news of Keshari's death, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar directed the DGP to thoroughly review the security of all legislators. He also ordered the DGP to constitute a high-level probe team and ensure frisking of visitors of the legislators.
Kumar asked Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi to rush to the spot immediately and said the cremation would take place with full state honours.
The chief minister also appealed to the people and supporters of Kesahri in Purnea to maintain peace as the guilty would soon be brought to justice.
State BJP president C P Thakur condemned the killing of the Keshari and said the case must be probed thoroughly.
"We will like a thorough probe into the incident," Thakur said.
He said, "In his (Keshari's) death, we have lost a young and dedicated soldier of BJP... we pray to God to give enough strength to Keshari's family and followers to tide over the grief."
DIG Purnea will probe the murder.