Bihar Journalist Shot Dead At His House, Chief Minister Reacts

Preliminary investigations indicate an old enmity with his neighbours could be the cause of the incident, police said.

  The gunmen knocked on his door and called his name at around 5:30 am.

New Delhi: Local journalists in the Araria district of Bihar were shot and killed this morning at their home by unidentified assailants, according to Bihar Police. The event happened near the Raniganj Bazaar. Described as a dukhad (sad) occurrence, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said he immediately ordered officials to look into the crime after learning about it. He told reporters in Patna, "How can a journalist be killed like this."

According to police, the 35-year-old victim was a local journalist for the publication "Dainik Jagran."Around 5:30 am, the shooters allegedly knocked on his door, yelled his name, and shot him in the chest when he opened the door.

Around 5:35 am, the local police station chief arrived at the scene and looked into the situation. Araria, the Superintendent of Police, has also been to the location. Police added that the dead body had been transported for an autopsy and that a dog squad and a forensics team were on the scene.

According to preliminary investigations, the event may have been caused by a longtime grudge between the man and his neighbors, according to the police.

सूचना पर थानाध्यक्ष द्वारा करीब 05ः35 बजे घटनास्थल पर पहुँचकर मामले की जाँच की गयी, पुलिस अधीक्षक, अररिया द्वारा भी घटनास्थल का भ्रमण किया गया है I शव को अन्त्यपरीक्षण हेतु भेज दिया गया है। मृतक दैनिक जागरण समाचार पत्र के स्थानीय पत्रकार बताये जा रहे हैं। (2/3)

— Bihar Police (@bihar_police) August 18, 2023

The victim's younger brother, Kumar Shashibhushan alias Gabbu, a sarpanch, was also murdered in the same way two years prior.The case's primary witness, Vimal Kumar Yadav, was assassinated, and it's thought that may have something to do with it.

In the ongoing court case, Mr. Yadav had not yet provided a deposition against the murderer of his brother.According to reports, he had received numerous threats urging him not to.

After reading the charge sheet, it's probable that the defendant thought Mr. Yadav's evidence was crucial to the case, according to ADG(HQ) Jitendra Singh Gangwar.According to Mr. Gangwar, the police will look into this possibility because Mr. Yadav's family has also suggested a connection between the two homicides.

"A journalist named Vimal Kumar Yadav was shot and killed by unidentified criminals in the Raniganj Bazar area; the post-mortem is ongoing.The murder scene has received a call from the dog squad.The Superintendent of Police in Araria, Asok Kumar Singh, stated that an inquiry was ongoing.

The two children VimalKumarYadav left behind are a girl, age 13, and a son, age 15.

The opposition criticized the government and asserted that the episode proved "Bihar's democracy is in danger."Samrat Chaudhary, the state president of the BJP, charged that "criminals are roaming free while innocent citizens, including journalists and even police personnel, are being killed in Bihar."

"What happened in Araria is tragic in fact. But since the "ghamandia" (arrogant) Mahagathbandhan led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad formed the administration in the state, such events have become the norm, according to the BJP politician, whose party previously shared power with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) in the state.

Chirag Paswan, a former leader of the Lok Janshakti Party and current member of the BJP-led NDA, stated: "Nitish Kumar and his friends constantly yelling that Bihar's democracy is being attacked. However, they are powerless to defend the fourth estate.

Mr. Paswan remarked in reference to the recent murder of a police officer in Samastipur, "The common Bihari gave up all aspirations from Nitish Kumar long ago. But not even the press and the police are safe from his government.