Man shot dead over old land dispute in Purnia

Patna: A 30-year-old man was shot dead while he was sleeping inside his house under construction in Purnia district on Tuesday morning. The incident took place in Sabdalpur village under Kasba police station area.

The family members alleged that the murder was linked to an ongoing land dispute.The deceased was identified as Mohammad Shahjahan, son of Mohammad Qayum.According to Shahjahan’s father, the family was having an old dispute over 18 katthas of land with local land brokers and alleged land mafia. Concerned about their safety, the father and son chose to spend the night at the house under construction. While Mohammad Qayum slept on the roof, Shahjahan stayed in a room downstairs.The father said he woke up after hearing a loud noise from a tin gate. When he rushed downstairs, he found his son lying in a pool of blood. Shahjahan succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter, while the attackers managed to escape.Following the incident, police officials reached the spot and sent the body to Govt Medical College and Hospital, Purnia, for the postmortem. Given the nature of the crime, a forensic team was called to collect scientific evidence.

Kasba SHO Gyanranjan said police have initiated an investigation and are awaiting a written complaint from the family. “An FIR will be registered on the basis of the family’s complaint, and strict action will be taken against those involved in the killing,” he said.