Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has directed the state Home department to recommend to the Centre a CBI probe into alleged murder of an executive engineer paving the way for over 20,000 striking engineers to defer their indefinite strike from Thursday.

"Kumar has given his nod to the state Home department's proposal for handing over the inquiry into the murder case to the CBI," state principal secretary (Home) Afzal Amanullah told PTI on Thursday.

Yogendra Pandey, the executive engineer of Sitamarhi Road Division died on June 18 after falling from the collectorate building.

Even though a suicide note was recovered from him, his family members claimed that he was pushed from top of the building.

Amanullah said the state Home department, through a notification issued this morning, recommended to the Union Home ministry seeking institution of the inquiry into the case by the premier investigating agency.

Earlier, state police headquarters suggested the state Home department to refer the case to the CBI in wake of the doubts expressed by the engineers, who are on strike for past three days, to press for the probe.

Till the CBI takes over the inquiry into the case, the police under supervision of DIG (Muzaffarpur range) will continue its investigation, ADG (headquarters) Neelmani said.

Meanwhile, the Bihar Engineering Services Association (BESA) has deferred its indefinite strike till July one.

"We have decided to continue our cease work stir instead of proceeding on an indefinite strike from today in the wake of the chief minister ordering the CBI probe," BESA general secretary Aditya Narain Jha Anal said today.

Besides a CBI probe, the BESA demanded Rs 25 lakh compensation for the kin of Pandey, and government service to one of his dependant, Jha said.