Ara: A retired assistant customs commissioner, Ram Kumar Singh (70), was shot dead allegedly by four armed miscreants outside his house in Kanakpuri locality near Jain College under Nawada police station area of Bhojpur district on Thursday morning. A person was detained in connection with the murder, while Ara Mufassil SHO Ram Kalyan Yadav was suspended for alleged inaction on complaints filed by the deceased against alleged land-grabbers.Recounting the incident, Singh’s elder son, Rajesh Kumar Singh, said he and his father routinely went for morning walks at Ara Ramna Maidan by car. “We had just stepped out of our house. While my father was locking the main shutter, about four miscreants opened fire on him. I was sitting in the car when locals alerted me. My father sustained gunshot injuries and collapsed. I immediately informed the police. He was rushed to Ara Sadar Hospital but succumbed to his injuries,” he said.Singh was president of Shahabad Kshatriye Kalyan Mahasabha and was associated with several social and cultural organisations in Ara.DM Manesh Kumar Meena, SP Awadhesh Kumar Dixit, Ara Sadar SDPO-I Sushil Kumar, Nawada SHO Kumar Rajnikant and other police personnel reached the spot and launched an investigation. The SP said a land dispute appeared to be the motive, based on information provided by the deceased’s wife and other family members. Police recovered empty cartridges from the spot, while the FSL team and District Intelligence Unit (DIU) collected evidence.Singh’s wife, Sushila Devi, alleged that the family owned around 14 katthas of land in Balbatara locality under Ara Mufassil police station area. She claimed the accused, four in number, had demolished the boundary wall around the plot and forged land documents in connivance with an administrative official. She also alleged that the land-grabbers had earlier threatened to kill the entire family.Following the murder, family members and local residents blocked the Ara-Patna road near Sapna Cinema Mor, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. Sushila Devi also alleged that the Mufassil SHO had connived with the accused. The blockade was lifted after around five hours following intervention by the DM and SP.The SP said the SHO was suspended after the family alleged that he had failed to act on complaints against the accused filed earlier. He added that police had detained a man identified as Manoj on the family’s complaint and were conducting raids to arrest the other accused.Asked about allegations of possible involvement of a police officer and influential people, the SP said anyone found involved would face legal action, irrespective of their position.The DM said raids were underway to arrest other accused and the family’s demand for security was being considered. He added that allegations of negligence by administrative and police officials would be acted upon if the investigation established their involvement.praveensibu@gmail.com
