Maoist dies in Bihar jail, Nitish Kumar orders probe

A Naxalite died in police custody on Thursday at Barun police station area in Bihar's Aurangabad district following which Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ordered a probe into the incident.

Madan Yadav, alias Dineshji, the 'sub-zonal commander' of a Naxal outfit, died in police lock up due to ill-health, superintendent of police SK Jain said.

The cause of death will be confirmed only after autopsy of the body, he said.

A resident of Gaya district, Dineshji was arrested on Wednesday during a joint operation by the Aurangabad and Gaya police at Jogia village in Aurangabad district, Jain said.

Meanwhile, the chief minister ordered a probe by the ADG (headquarters) and IG (prisons) into the custodial death of the Naxalite and said if anyone was found guilty he will not be spared.

The state government will pay compensation to the kin of the Naxalite, the CM he said but did not elaborate on the amount of compensation.