A contractor by profession Anil Kumar was shot dead on Wednesday night, on NH 98 in Sultani Ghati. The deceased was on a bike with his father-in-law who survived the shots. Anil was hit by cartridge in his ribs and that proved fatal.
The SP Palamu YS Ramesh has confirmed this killing. Ramesh said Anil and his father-in-law were coming on bike from Bihar and from a place called Deo, the two were being followed by two riders on a bike.
Ramesh said the father-in-law noticed this unusual trailing of a bike behind them with two on it and told his son-in-law to be cautious who tried to speed away, but in Sultani Ghati finding the place a bit secluded the rider fired and the single shot finished Anil on the spot. Another shot just brushed past the leg of the father-in-law of Anil.
Arshi, an IPS probationer now handling Harihurganj police station under which this crime was committed said the two on a bike were chasing Anil from Bihar and the deceased could not sense the danger lurking on him despite his father-in-law telling Anil about a bike trailing behind them. At Sultani Ghati the chaser overtook Anil’s bike and started firing.
The incident took place between 7 to 7.15 on Wednesday night. The Harihurganj police learnt about it quite sooner. It acted fast but with caution in abundance as NH 98 and that too Sultani Ghati is infamous for Naxals’ many deceitful assaults on the police party here. Arshi and his boys reached the place of occurrence the same night itself and surveyed the area . The fallen bike of Anil was later brought down to the Harihurganj police station.
The geo position of this Ghati, rough terrain and easy retreat are most liked by criminals. This case is a classic one as chase began in Bihar, the chaser trekked down 30 kilometers on bike and finding NH 98 in Jharkhand’s Palamu a bit less trafficked at night committed the crime taking the toll of their target Anil.
The crime was premeditated, planned and executed with precision and with no foible. Motive for killing is not yet known. Anil and his father-in-law were on way back to Daltonganj after a marriage negotiation. The murder bespoke of deep seated vengeance. Sources said Anil was the target and this might be of his any role in marriage settlement.