Panchayat member shot dead in Ara

Ara: Six criminals shot dead Basauri panchayat primary agricultural credit society (PACS) president Nagesh Pandey a.k.a. Chhotkun Pandey between Jaisidih and Manaini villages on Thursday night when he was driving back home.

Later, police took the body to Ara Sadar hospital for post-mortem. He was son of Kamta Pandey of Sikraul village under Sikarhatta police station.

War of attrition between the two groups of Sikraul village after the 2010 Assembly polls is said to be the cause behind the incident. Tension prevailed in and around the area following the murder.

Police forces from Piro police station, under which the crime occurred, led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Reshu Krishna are camping in the village. Police found seven blank cartridges from the spot.

Bhojpur SP Awakash Kumar said six men on three motorcycles waylaid Nagesh and fired indiscriminately at him in a retaliatory murder.

SP said Nagesh and Dharmendra Singh of Sikraul village developed enmity after the Assembly elections in 2010 and the Basauri panchayat PACS president Munna Singh alias Dharmendra Singh was killed on September 18, 2011.

Dharmendra’s brother, Manoj Singh, lodged a named FIR with Nawada police station against four persons, including Nagesh and his elder brother Rajesh. Both the brothers were arrested and sent to jail but got bailed later.

In retaliation, Rajesh was killed on December 24, 2016. Munna’s family members were made named accused in the FIR in the Rajesh murder case.

On February 10, 2017, Prakash was shot at and injured.

He was allegedly wanted for the murder of Rajesh. Again on December 14, 2017, the two groups had clashed and exchanged about 30 rounds though no casualty was reported. The SP said police are searching for the assailants.

He said the situation was under control and police forces had been deployed in the area and patrolling had been intensified.

Courtesy: The Telegraph