FIRING OVER LAND DISPUTE PRIOR TO VISIT OF THE CM

FIRING OVER LAND DISPUTE PRIOR TO VISIT OF THE CM

25-MARCH-ENG 14

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA-----------------------------On Tuesday afternoon, guns blazed within the premises of the Piro Registry Office—located in the Piro police station area of ​​Bhojpur district—just prior to the arrival of the Chief Minister.

During the incident, heavy firing erupted within the registry office complex over a land dispute. Consequently, four individuals—including two biological brothers—sustained gunshot wounds, while three others were injured by pellets. Four of the injured victims were transported to a private hospital in the city's Babu Bazar area for treatment, while the remaining three are currently undergoing treatment at the Piro Primary Health Centre (PHC). The incident triggered a stampede within the Piro Registry Office premises, sending people scrambling in all directions to save their lives.

Upon receiving information about the incident, Superintendent of Police (SP) Raj and Piro Additional SP (ASP)—who also serves as the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO)—Krishna Kumar Singh arrived at the scene with a police force and have initiated an investigation into the matter. According to reports, the injured include Jitendra Yadav (alias 'Jitu Yadav'), a 30-year-old property dealer and son of Ramsurat Singh; his 25-year-old brother, Satyendra Yadav (alias 'Malkh Yadav')—both residents of Balua Tola village within the Piro police station area; Pintu Kumar (alias 'Kachche Kumar'), a 21-year-old son of Hiralal Singh from the same village; and Ritesh Dubey, a 34-year-old son of Umesh Dubey, a resident of Nagraon village in the Charpokhari police station area.

Among the victims, Ritesh Dubey sustained a gunshot wound to his right wrist; Jitendra Yadav (Jitu) was shot in the right side of his neck; Satyendra Yadav (Malkh) was hit in his right thigh and below the knee on his left leg; and Pintu Kumar (Kachche) sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh of his left leg. Additionally, three individuals were injured by pellets during the firing: Dinesh Kumar Singh, a 31-year-old son of Chandeshwar Singh (Balua Tola village, Piro police station area); Kaushal Dubey, a 40-year-old son of the late Ramniwas Dubey (Nagraon village, Charpokhari police station area); and Anil Kumar, a 64-year-old son of Nehru Lal (Karth village, Tarari police station area). Meanwhile, Om Kumar—the cousin of the injured Jitendra Yadav (alias Jeetu Yadav)—stated that a dispute regarding a 2.5-katha plot of land has been ongoing for two years between Jitendra Yadav and Laddoo Khan, a resident of Piro. A case regarding this matter has already been lodged at the local police station, and the opposing party has repeatedly issued threats to assault them.

He explained that his cousin, Jitendra Yadav (alias Jeetu Yadav), along with his own brother Satyendra Yadav (alias Malkh Yadav), their friends Ritesh Dubey and Pintu Kumar (alias Kachche Kumar), and others, had gone to the Piro Registry Office to register a land deed. They were standing within the premises of the registry office when the incident occurred.

At that moment, Suraj Rai arrived carrying his licensed firearm. Thinking they should inform the local police so that Suraj Rai could be apprehended, they considered alerting the authorities. However, Suraj Rai fled the scene. When he returned shortly thereafter accompanied by four accomplices, Jitendra Yadav (alias Jeetu Yadav) confronted him, asking what business a gun had inside the registry office. Provoked by this remark, Suraj Rai opened fire indiscriminately.

Commenting on the incident, Krishna Kumar Singh—the ASP-cum-SDPO of Piro—stated that the dispute centers on a 5-katha plot of land. Both parties were attempting to have the land registered in their respective names. The shootout stemmed from this very dispute. An investigation into the matter is underway, and raids are being conducted to apprehend the accused.

Dr. Vikas Singh, the surgeon treating the injured, confirmed that four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds were brought in for treatment. Surgical procedures were performed to extract the bullets from all the victims, and the damaged tissues and organs have been repaired. However, they will remain under medical observation for the time being.