JD(U) functionary shot dead in Khagaria

PATNA: A 42-year-old JD(U) functionary and former panchayat member, Naresh Ram, was gunned down by criminals in Khagaria district on Sunday, barely a week after the killing of the husband of a mukhiya in the district.
The incident took place around 7am when Ram had gone for a morning walk on the outskirts of his native village, Beldaur, under the same police station along with others.Two assailants accosted Ram on the Beldaur-Pansalwa road and pumped three bullets into his body, killing him on the spot.
Sikandar Kumar, an eyewitness and teacher at the local government girls’ school, rushed to the spot after hearing the sound of firing only to find the block vice-president of JD(U) lying in a pool of blood. He later reported the incident to the Beldaur police, which reached the spot and sent the body for autopsy.
Agitated over the incident, locals blocked roads and disrupted vehicular traffic at different locations, including Bhagwatipur, Kalisthan and Thana Chowk. The roadblocks were lifted after the intervention of Gogari SDPO P K Jha, who assured the protesters that the killers would be brought to book at the earliest.
Khagaria SP Amitesh Kumar said the reason behind the murder was yet to be ascertained. “Some locals have told the police that Ram was threatened by somebody at a meeting of the panchayat two days ago,” he added.
The deceased also had some dispute with a resident of Sahebpur Kamal police station area in neighbouring Begusarai district. “The police are verifying whether the incident has any connection with the panchayat elections to be held next year,” the SP said.
Khagaria district president of JD(U) Sonelal Mehta has expressed his deep anguish over Ram’s murder and demanded immediate arrest of the criminals. “We will approach the senior police officers if the shooters are not arrested soon,” he said.
On November 25, Md Kaisar, husband of a mukhiya, was gunned down by armed criminals at Chodhali village in the district during a meeting of the panchayat. Mamta Devi, Khagaria district president of Mukhiya Sangh, alleged that 12 people’s representatives have been killed in the district since 2017.