Woman among six killed, minor raped in Bihar in 24 hours

PATNA: At least six people, including a veterinary doctor and a private contractor, were murdered in different incidents in the state in the last 24 hours. In addition, a minor girl was raped in Katihar.
Reports reaching the police headquarters said veterinary doctor Devendra Rai alias Devendra Yadav (50) was shot dead by unidentified criminals at the newly built government primary school at Bagulwa Tola under Chiraiya police outpost in Saharsa district.The incident took place around midnight when he was sleeping there but the police received information about the incident only on Sunday morning. Devendra, a native of Harishankar Ashinchak under Dalsinghsarai police station area in Samastipur, was living alone at the village as he had a major chunk of agricultural land in the region.
Police sources said that the deceased had donated his land to the primary school. Chiraiya SHO Kanti Prasad Yadav said moneylending was suspected to be the reason behind the murder. "He had given a huge amount of money to people on interest," he told this newspaper over phone.
One Bhullu Choudhary (65) was killed at Karhara Ghat in Saharsa district where he was employed as boatman by one Subhash Yadav. Bhullu belonged to Khagaria district. Rivalry over ferrying of boats in Kosi river was suspected to be the reason behind Bhullu's murder.
In Katihar, a 40-year-old woman was murdered at Kodha under the same police station area late Saturday night. The police, however, recovered the body with external injury marks on Sunday morning. Katihar Sadar SDPO Anil Kumar said Chandani Devi, a native of Mushapur village, was last seen with one Mithu Vyadha of neighbouring Begandha village on Saturday evening. "She was strangled. Mithu is absconding after the incident," the SDPO said. Police have detained some suspects for interrogation in connection with the case.
In another incident, a minor girl was allegedly raped under Kodha police station in Katihar on Saturday night when she had gone to attend the nature's call. She has been admitted to the local primary health centre for treatment.
In Vaishali, one Mohammad Shahid was stabbed to death by his nephew after the latter prevented him from plucking pumpkin from his agriculture farm at Muja Pakri village under Belsar police outpost area on Sunday morning. Though the accused managed to escape, the police seized the bloodstained knife from his house. The body was handed over to the family after autopsy.
In another incident, 19-year-old Mohammad Reyaz Alam was killed and his body was dumped at Bankhobi village on Saturday night. Police said the deceased, a resident of Nalanda district, was a final year student of the government polytechnic college at Afzalpur in Vaishali district.
Earlier in the day, Sanjiv Kumar (50), an employee of Merchant Navy in Gujarat, was shot dead by motorbike-borne criminals at Chechar Chowk under Bidupur police station in Vaishali district. The assailants attacked Sanjiv when he was on way to his uncle Ranjit Singh's house at Chechar from his native village Kariho on his motorbike.
Bidupur SHO Amrendra Kumar said prima facie it appeared to be the incident of bike loot. "The deceased had come to his native village from Gujarat on leave," he added.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)