Bhojpur police arrest 5 persons with firearms in Shabnam Tara murder case

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Bhojpur police on February 26, 2019, late evening, arrested five miscreants including the brother of a dreaded criminal Khurshid Mian along with firearms in connection with murder Shabnam Tara and injury to her brother Waqil Ahamd, RJD State Secretary, in Doodh Katora locality under Town police station, Ara, on February 25, 2019, night.

SDPO, Ara, Pankaj Kumar said that about a dozen armed miscreants had on February 25, 2019, late evening, attacked the house of Waqil Ahmad, an eye witness of the murder of his brother Imran Khan, a trader, and shot dead Shabnam Tara and also shot at and injured Waqil Ahmad and escaped. They were compelling them to withdraw the case of the murder of Imran Khan.

A named FIR was lodged by Ara Town police station against Ward Councillor Alim Mian, Khurshid Mian, Iqbal, Guddu Nayyar, Chhotu alias Gundaraj, Sarla Mian, Shibbu and Shamsher on the statement of Waqil Ahmad, the SHO said.  After the institution of the FIR, police conducted raids at  Kasab Tola, Milki, and Kazi Tola and other hideouts of Khurshid Mian the whole night and arrested five persons including Alim Mian, Ward Councillor and brother of Khurshid Mian.

Bhojpur SP Aditya Kumar said that he has formed Special Investigation Team (SIT) under SDPO Pankaj Kumar to investigate the case and arrest the absconding Khurshid Mian and others connection with murder of Imran Khan and his sister Shabnam Tara.

Gundaraj and Guru Chor of Kasaitol locality under Ara Town police station had allegedly threatened Shabnam Tara with dire consequences on February 14, 2019, and she had lodged a named FIR with town police station against three persons but  police remained inactive.

Khurshid Mian, who carried a reward of Rs 5000 on his head, and slain businessman Imran Khan of Doodh Katora locality under Town police station had a long standing enmity over the possession of shops in Dharman Chowk locality under Town police station. Imran Khan and his brother Suhail had purchased eight shops in a market at Dharman Chowk and Khurshid Mian had locked some of the shops that flared up dispute between him and Imran Khan. On December 6, 2018, Khurshid Mian along with his goons went there to take possession of the shops and had a scuffle with Imran Khan. He had allegedly also demanded Rs 10 lakh rangdari from Imran Khan to open the locks of the shop.

Later, Khurshid Mian and his goons fired indiscriminately in which Imran Khan was killed on the spot while his brother Waqil Ahamad and a BSNL employee Md Farooq were injured. Waqil Ahamad had lodged a named FIR with Town police station against nine persons including Khurshid Mian at that time and police had arrested five named accused but four named accused including Khurshid Mian are still absconding. The goon of Khurshid Mian were pressurising the family members of Imran Khan including Shabnam Tara to withdraw the case and when they did not yield to his dictate, Khurshid Mian and his goons attacked and killed Shabnam Tara and shot at and injured Waqil Ahmad.

Arzoo Khatoon, wife of Khurshid Mian, said that her husband has nothing to do with the murder of Shabnam Tara and he had been implicated in the case. She said if police investigate the matter impartially and interrogate the husband and daughter of the deceased, things would become clear.