Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Aug 15: A 26-year-old man was allegedly shot dead on Independence Day in Shahpur village under Salimpur police station in the Barh subdivision of Patna, police said.

The incident triggered panic in the locality. The deceased was identified as Veeru Kumar, a resident of Lodipur village under Khusrupur police station limits in Patna district.

According to Veeru's family, he was initially called by Sonu Kumar, nephew of the Majhauli Panchayat Mukhiya, to attend a flag-hoisting programme. Veeru reportedly told him that he would join after completing his morning routine.

Subsequently, Sonu's two other nephews, Ajit Kumar and Prince Kumar, who live in Shahpur, allegedly arrived at Veeru's house and took him with them.

Soon afterwards, villagers informed the family that Veeru had been shot and that his body was lying on the road.

Police from Salimpur police station reached the spot, took custody of the body and sent it to Barh Sub-Divisional Hospital for postmortem examination.

Salimpur SHO Manoj Kumar said Veeru and the accused were known to each other and were friends. According to the preliminary investigation, they were together when Veeru was allegedly shot in the head.

Police have also received information about a previous dispute involving a financial transaction and are examining it as a possible motive for the killing.

Police teams are conducting raids to locate and arrest the accused. Investigators are also examining the allegations made by the deceased's family and other circumstances surrounding the incident.

The exact motive and circumstances of the killing will become clear as the investigation progresses.

Meanwhile, in another incident in Patna, a jewellery shop owner was seriously injured after being shot while allegedly resisting a robbery attempt in a posh locality under Kankarbagh police station on Friday night.

Deepak Kumar, owner of Aanchal Alankar Jewellers, suffered a gunshot wound to his abdomen and is undergoing treatment in the ICU of a private hospital. His condition is reported to be critical.