Criminals shot dead couple, looted ornaments and Rs 2 lakh cash in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara: Over half a dozen criminals shot dead a couple at village Zamira under Ara Muffassil police station in Bhojpur district in the wee hour on Friday and escaped with valuables worth several lakhs besides Rs 2 lakh cash. A named FIR has been lodged with Ara Muffassil police station against seven persons in this connection. Police arrested two of the named accused: Harendra Singh and Umesh Rai of Zamira village. Later, police brought the bodies to Ara Sadar Hospital for post-mortem.

Ara SDPO Sanjay Kumar said that seven armed persons knocked the door of Batuk Singh, 35, son of Achyutanand Singh at Zamira village in the wee hour on Friday and when he opened the door, they shot him dead. The criminals also went to the top floor of the house and demanded key of the Almirah from Yamuna Devi, 27, wife of Batuk Singh. But she refused. At this, the criminals also shot her dead. They opened the Almirah and looted all ornaments and also Rs 2 lakh cash. Yamuna Devi was pregnant.

The SDPO said that Batuk Singh was a money lender. The miscreants had demanded Rs one lakh from him three days ago but he refused to give money unless they mortgaged some valuables articles. The miscreants threatened him with dire consequences. Villagers said that the criminals also asked the niece of Batuk Singh not to tell their names to anyone otherwise they would kidnap her and also kill his brother Suraj.