Patna's Rising Crime Wave: Two Murders in 24 Hours Spark Outrage
Recent Murders Raise Alarms in Patna
Patna: On Tuesday morning, the discovery of two murdered individuals near the Majhauli-Singhara rural road, close to the Bikram police station, has raised alarms about escalating crime rates in the region. This incident follows a tragic shooting on Monday, where a mother and daughter were killed in a drive-by attack, further intensifying fears regarding public safety in Bihar.
Patna's Senior Superintendent of Police, Awakash Kumar, confirmed that local villagers alerted authorities about the bodies found by the roadside.
A police team quickly arrived at the scene to recover the bodies, which bore multiple gunshot wounds.
The victims have been identified as Sonu Kumar and Roshan Kumar, both from Bagha Kol in Patna. Notably, Sonu had a criminal history, previously implicated in a murder case involving a watchman in 2022.
"Both victims exhibited clear signs of gunshot injuries. Their remains have been taken into custody and transported to a hospital for autopsy," Kumar stated.
"A Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team has been dispatched to assist in the investigation. An FIR will be filed based on the accounts provided by the deceased's relatives," he added.
"The motive behind this incident remains unclear. We have launched a comprehensive investigation and are conducting a search operation to apprehend those responsible for the murders. Given Sonu's criminal past, we are exploring this angle as well," Kumar explained.
Earlier on Monday, three family members were shot in the Arfabad area under the Alamganj police jurisdiction.
Among the victims, a mother and daughter tragically succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
The shooting occurred around 9:15 AM as the family was en route to the local market, targeted by two assailants on a motorcycle.
The deceased woman has been identified as Mahalaxmi Mehta, a retired nurse, while her husband is Dhananjay Mehta.
Mahalaxmi and her daughter suffered gunshot wounds to their chest, stomach, and back, while Dhananjay was shot in the leg.
These violent incidents within a short span have raised serious concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar, governed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
In response, the Opposition party, Rashtriya Janata Dal, has ramped up its criticism of the Nitish Kumar administration, accusing it of failing to ensure public safety.
The ruling party finds itself on the defensive as public scrutiny intensifies ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.