Education dept clerk shot dead in Gopalganj

PATNA: A 42-year-old clerk of the state education department was shot dead by unidentified armed criminals in Gopalganj district on Thursday, triggering protests by his family members and local residents.
Police suspect the involvement of education mafia behind the incident, which took place around 9 am on NH-85 near Lachhwar village under the Thawe police station area, when the victim, Ajay Rai alias Ajay Kumar, was on way to the office in Gopalganj on his motorbike.Two assailants riding a motorbike, overtook him on the busy road and fired from close range.
Rai, a resident of Mazirwa Khurd village under the Phulwaria police station area, was rushed to Goapalganj sadar hospital where he died during treatment.
According to sources, the victim was on the target of education mafia ever since he had submitted some relevant documents related to fake appointment of school teachers to the vigilance bureau team.
The deceased’s family members and local residents created a ruckus at the sadar hospital alleging that he had died due to the negligence of the doctors. The situation was brought under control after the intervention of senior police officers. Thawe police station SHO Vishal Anand said the reason behind the murder is yet to be ascertained. He, however, admitted that the victim’s colleagues revealed to the investigating officer that he was threatened by the education mafia operating in the district.
“Incidentally, Rai never approached police for protection. Had he shared the information, police would have swung into action and nabbed those behind issuing threats,” the SHO said adding, “The case will be probed from different angles.” Police later conducted raids at different hideouts of the criminals.
The vigilance bureau is probing the alleged fake appointment of 127 school teachers. They were appointed in different government primary and middle schools between 2007-08 and 2014-15.