From correspondents in Delhi, India, 04:30 PM IST

The Janata Dal-United (JD-U) has constituted a committee to investigate the mass resignation of party members in Bihar, allegedly due to threats from the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist).

'A three member committee has been formed by party president Sharad Yadav to investigate the matter relating to mass resignation of JD-U leaders and activists under pressure from the Maoists in Imamganj assembly constituency of Gaya,' a statement issued by the party Wednesday said.

'Due to this threat, 64 members of the party had resigned May 5,' JD-U general secretary Javed Raza told IANS.

The committee will be headed by Ram Jivan Singh, a former Bihar minister. The other members of the panel are Saroj Bachan Nayak, a legislator from Madhya Pradesh, and Jeetmal Khat, a legislator from Rajasthan.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)