Indian politician stabbed to death by accuser

Tue, 04 Jan 2011

New Delhi - A legislator in India's eastern state of Bihar was stabbed to death Tuesday by a woman who had accused him of sexual harassment and rape, officials said.

Raj Kishore Kesri, 51, of the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was holding an open house at his home in the eastern district of Purnea when the woman attacked him with a knife that she had hidden under her shawl, politicians and police said.

"The police and doctors have confirmed that Mr Kesri died on the scene," district legislator Uday Singh told reporters.

"The assailant, a teacher, had last year accused Mr Kesari of raping her but had subsequently withdrawn the charges," he said.

Bihar police chief Neelmani, who uses only one name, said Kesri's supporters had beaten the woman and she was admitted to hospital with serious injuries.

BJP leaders rejected the allegations against Kesri, saying the charges were part of a "political conspiracy" before local elections in November.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, meanwhile, ordered an investigation into the crime and directed police to boost the security of state legislators.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360621,politician-stabbed-death-accuser.html.