Jhony Joseph committee to probe in BEST bus shootout: CM

Mumbai, Oct 29 : A committee headed by Maharashtra Chief Secretary Jhony Joseph was appointed by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to conduct the enquiry in Monday, Oct 27's BEST bus shootout in which a Bihari youth Rahul Raj has been killed. Deshmukh has instructed the committee to submit its report at the earliest.

Deshmukh said that the committee would conduct an inquiry into the shootout incident to ascertain whether his killing could have been avoided. "They will inquire into all aspects of the incident, including how the armed youth got into the public transport bus and whether his killing could have been avoided," he added. Mumbai Police shot dead Rahul Raj, a 26-year-old native of Patna, inside a BEST bus (Bombay Electric Supply and Transport) in the suburb.

Police said that Rahul died in exchange of fire with police after attempts to persuade him to surrender failed.

Later, the bus conductor said that Rahul wanted to kill Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray, which is fuelling anti-immigrant rhetoric in the state.

On Oct 19, MNS activists had attacked Indian railway job aspirants from the north, prompting calls for Thackeray's arrest and for the party to be banned.

Raj Thackeray was arrested on October 21 for rioting and provoking attacks on migrants. His arrest sparked protests in Maharashtra and a backlash on migrants across the country.

However, on October 22, Raj was given bail in Mumbai after spending a night in jail.

ANI