An active and prominent BJP functionary, Avinash Kumar was shot dead by three armed assailants on Thursday morning in Patna triggering a flurry of protests by the Opposition party and adjournment of both Houses of legislature.
Kumar, general secretary of BJP’s Patna unit was accosted by the assailants near his house in Daldali Road when he was going for his morning walk alone. They pumped at least three bullets which hit his head and chest and he died on the spot. The scene of chase by the marauders and pumping bullets was caught on the CCTV cameras.
“The footage shows three assailants chasing Kumar on foot. They shot him and he fell on the road. One of the assailants then walked back and shot him in the head. All the attackers escaped after committing the crime,” a police officer said. The attackers were in age group of 20-25 years. The police are trying to identify the killers with the help of CCTV footage.
Police sources said coordinated raids led by Patna Senior SP Vikas Vaibhav are being conducted across the city to nab the criminals involved in the crime. City SP (Central) Chandan Kumar Kushwaha and entire top brass of the city police are involved in the raids. Two people were reportedly arrested as teams led by Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav launched coordinated raids across the city.
The news of the killing spread like wildfire and soon the agitated people hit the road and staged protest by burning tyres and blocking traffic. Several BJP leaders including Bankipur MlA, Nitin Navin, joined the protest against the killing. Navin said, “Kumar was supposed to meet me today morning as we were to tour our constituency areas in view of the coming Assembly polls. I was waiting for him when news came that he has been shot dead near his house.” The MlA said if police fail to arrest the culprits within 48 hours, he and his party will come out on roads to protest the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and the State.
“This has happened under the watch of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who also handles the law and order and home portfolio,” said BJP leader and former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain. “It keeps on happening day after day right under the nose of the administration, yet the response has been ineffective,” he added.
Hussain joined leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav, former deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi and other party leaders at a dharna near the murder spot. Modi, who called the incident a live proof of the return of jungle raj, also attended the funeral of Kumar at Gulbi Ghat.
With the Bihar Assembly polls round the corner, BJP leaders have linked the incident to the deteriorating law and order in Bihar.