A Rashtriya Janata Dal worker was shot dead in poll-bound Bihar on Wednesday night — with police soon launching an investigation. The incident took place while Rajkumar Rai was travelling home through the Rajendra Nagar terminal area of Patna. CCTV footage showed the unknown armed assailants fleeing the spot after firing multiple rounds around 10 pm.
What exactly happened?
According to the Patna police, Yadav had been returning to his residence at Chitragupta Magar by car on Wednesday night. The firing had started as soon as the vehicle stopped. The politician managed to come out of the car and hide in a nearby restaurant. But he was chased into the eatery and shot repeatedly by the assailants.
“The deceased, a resident of Vaishali Raghopur, who was currently living in Munna Chak, had returned from some work in a four-wheeler. He stopped to buy food near his house when the criminals fired six rounds at him, causing him to collapse. The local police, just a few steps away, reached the spot soon after,” Patna East SP Parichay Kumar told reporters.
The police had taken Rai to the hospital after reaching the spot, where he succumbed during treatment. Officials recovered six spent cartridges from the spot and suspect more than two people were involved in the incident.
Politically active
Rai had been politically active and previously contested the Raghopur District Council Area elections in 2021. Source-based reports suggest he had also been gearing up to contest the upcoming state Assembly polls from the constituency. The Patna police suspect that a land dispute and money transactions could be the motive.
“The exact cause of the incident is not known, but the locals said he was active in politics and also involved in the sale-purchase of land. Police are investigating the matter from all angles and also analysing CCTV footage to nab the accused,” the SP added.
Members of his family have demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible and warned of extensive protests. Sheela Devi — the sister of the deceased RJD leader — warned that warned that family members would block roads and gherao the Chitragupta Nagar police station if the accused were not arrested.
“The incident happened around 9:00 PM. They shot him dead after firing multiple rounds. I appeal to the administration to arrest the accused. If there is no arrest, we will block the road and gherao the police station. We will not perform the last rites until arrests are made. My brother was innocent, and he was killed in cold blood. It was a planned murder,” she told ANI.