Ara: A 36-year-old hardware trader was shot dead allegedly by three bike-borne assailants in broad daylight on Saturday morning while he was returning home on his scooter after dropping his two children at school. Police suspect a land dispute with relatives could be behind the killing.The deceased was identified as Upendra Kumar Singh, son of late Baiju Singh, a retired Army jawan, and a native of Badiha village under Sandesh police station in Bhojpur district. He owned a hardware and paint shop in Bahiro locality of Ara and had been living in Gautam Budh Nagar on Godhna Road under Ara Nawada police station area for the past 20 years.According to police, the incident occurred near the Sun Temple and Bihari Mill overbridge under Nawada police station area. The assailants allegedly shot Singh in the head from close range. He died while being taken to Ara Sadar Hospital.Ara Sadar SDPO-1 Sushil Kumar, Nawada SHO Kumar Rajnikant and other police personnel reached the spot and later visited the hospital, where they questioned family members about the possible motive.Singh’s mother, Bacho Devi, told police that the family had a dispute with some relatives over 10 kathas of land in Badiha village. She named several relatives whom she suspected of involvement in her son’s murder. She also referred to a dispute over money borrowed by her son, but said she was unaware of the details.Police said CCTV footage from cameras installed on both sides of the road near the crime spot could provide crucial clues in identifying the assailants. Further investigation is underway.
