Man shot dead by cousin in Samastipur

Patna: A 30-year-old man was shot dead after an assailant allegedly entered his house in Dadapur ward no. 6 under Mufassil police station area of Samastipur district early Friday. Suraj Kumar’s family accused his cousin of carrying out the murder over an old dispute.

Three bullets hit Suraj, son of Bhola Rai.

According to family members, the incident took place around 6am. After hearing gunshots, relatives and neighbours rushed Suraj to sadar hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Suraj’s wife, Sadhana Kumari, said, “Around 6am, my husband had just woken up when my husband’s cousin Ganesh Kumar entered the house with a pistol and fired three shots at him one after another. We tried to catch Ganesh, but he fled.”

Sadhana said Suraj had returned to Samastipur from Kolkata only a day earlier. He worked in a building construction firm in Kolkata. “There is no dispute with anyone in the house. I don’t know why he was killed,” she added.

The victim’s mother, Shanti Devi, alleged that Ganesh was involved in the liquor trade. “Ganesh sells liquor. We had stopped him several times from doing this illegal business. He has been jailed earlier in a liquor case. He had earlier also attacked my son,” she alleged.

On receiving information, Mufassil SHO-cum-inspector Ajit Kumar reached the spot and launched an investigation.

“The family has filed a murder complaint against the deceased’s cousin. It appears there was an old dispute between the two families. The matter is under investigation,” the SHO said.