Patna civil court lawyer shot dead

PATNA: A Patna civil court lawyer, Harendra Rai (55), was shot dead by motorcycle-borne criminals near Sarari village under the Naubatpur police station area in western Patna around 10.30am on Tuesday. Rai was on way to court when the incident occurred.
Police said the criminals started trailing Rai after he left his village for the court and intercepted him at a secluded place near Sarari.“They forced Rai to stop his bike and shot him in chest from a close range. The lawyer died on the spot,” a senior police officer said.
City SP (west) Ashok Mishra later visited Rai’s residence for investigation. Mishra said the lawyer’s family members told police that they had an old enmity with a neighbouring family.
SHO of Naubatpur police station Samrat Deepak Kumar said Rai used to practise in Danapur sub-divisional court earlier. “However, he started practising in Patna civil court recently and used to handle excise cases there,” he said.
The SHO added Rai’s mother was also murdered in 2001. “In that case too, the same neighbouring family was made an accused,” he said.
Meanwhile, another senior police officer said trial in the case pertaining to Rai’s murder was at the final stage and sentence would be pronounced by the court soon.
“Rai had an old enmity with his neighbour. In addition, police have also come to know that Rai was representing co-villagers in the court in several cases.