Farmer who testified in love affair case shot dead

Patna: A farmer who had testified in a village love affair case last year was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants while sleeping outside his house in Samastipur district early on Monday.

Police suspect the murder of Raj Narayan Singh (45), an unmarried resident of Pachpaika village under the Ujiarpur police station area, may be linked to the testimony that allegedly sent members of the rival side to jail.According to police, Raj Narayan was primarily engaged in farming and looked after his family’s affairs. His brother, Tej Narayan Singh, claimed that he often raised his voice against corruption and illegal activities in the area, earning several enemies over the years.Family members alleged that Raj Narayan was targeted because he had testified in the love affair case, which resulted in the imprisonment of some people from the opposing side. Police sources said his role in managing family land had also become a source of tension in the village.Investigators said Raj Narayan usually slept outside the main entrance of his house. CCTV footage has shown two men fleeing the area on a motorcycle around 3am, strengthening suspicion about their involvement in the killing.

Dalsinghsarai sub-divisional police officer Vivek Kumar Sharma said, “Police are probing all possible motives. However, it is suspected that he may have been killed for giving testimony in a case related to lover affair in the village last year. The matter is under investigation and the case will be cracked soon. Efforts are also on to identify and arrest those involved in the crime.”Ujiarpur SHO, Ramanuj Ram said, “The victim was unmarried and a large property was in his paternal share. We are also investigating the involvement of relatives in the murder, for property.”