New Delhi:
Local gunmen in the Araria district of Bihar shot and killed a local journalist at his home this morning, according to the Bihar Police. The event happened near the Raniganj Bazaar neighbourhood. 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.”
The 35-year-old victim, Vimal Kumar Yadav, was a local journalist for the publication “Dainik Jagran,” according to the police. 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 head of the neighbourhood police station arrived and started looking into the situation. Araria, the Superintendent of Police, has also been to the location. A forensics team and a dog squad are on the scene, according to the police, who also stated that the dead corpse has been transported for an autopsy.
According to preliminary investigations, the event may have been caused by an existing grudge between the man and his neighbours, according to the police.
The victim’s younger brother, sarpanch Kumar Shashibhushan alias Gabbu, was murdered in a similar way two years prior. The case’s primary witness, Vimal Kumar Yadav, was gunned down, 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.
According to ADG (HQ) Jitendra Singh Gangwar, it’s possible that the accused believed Mr. Yadav’s testimony was essential to the case after reading the charge sheet. Mr. Gangwar said the police will look into this possibility because Mr. Yadav’s family has additionally claimed a connection between the two murders.
“In the Raniganj Bazar area, a journalist namely Vimal Kumar Yadav was shot dead by unidentified criminals…post-mortem is underway. The dog squad has been called to the murder spot…An investigation is on,” Ashok Kumar Singh, Superintendent of Police, Araria, said.
Vimal Kumar Yadav passed away with a son, 15, and a daughter, 13, all of whom are still living.
The opposition criticised the administration and asserted that the episode proved “Bihar’s democracy is in danger.” According to state BJP president Samrat Choudhary, “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 occurrences have become the norm,’ said the BJP leader, whose party previously shared power in the state with Nitish Kumar’s JD(U).
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.
