Patna: Pilot vehicle of former Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s convoy set on fire. The convoy of former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was attacked and the pilot van was set on fire by a group of people protesting the murder of Dumariya block LJP president Sudesh Paswan and his brother Sunil Paswan on Thursday.

Condemning the attack on Mr. Manjhi, LJP leader and Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan who reached Patna on Thursday called it “an attempt to suppress the voice of opposition by supporters of ruling party”. The incident occurred when Mr. Manjhi was on his way to Dumariya in Gaya district to meet family members of the slain LJP leader. The police after the attack opened fire to disperse the unruly crowd and later arrested several protesters.

Sources from Dumariya informed that the entire block was badly vandalised by protesters who wanted Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to visit the place and announce the compensation of Rs 20 lakh for the family members of slain LJP leader.

LJP leader Sudesh Paswan who was a panchayat poll candidate was gunned down along with his cousin on Wednesday by unidentified assailants belonging to a Naxal outfit. Handwritten posters were recovered from the spot which said that all police informers will be killed in the same manner and that the killing was “a warning to all those who thought that police will help them”.

The slain leader’s wife Maya Devi is a Mukhiya of Kachar Panchayat where according to sources she is seeking re – election.