Criminals throw challenge to police by murdering couple during Chhath

Alok Mishra

Patna: Throwing an open challenge to Patna Police on Chhath Puja day, an elderly couple Bipin Bihari Das and his wife Savita Sharma were murdered inside their plush house `Salona Kunj’  at P&T colony under Kotwali police station, Patna, on  November 6 morning. Both of them were in their seventies and hailed from Bakhri in Begusarai district. Bipin Bihari Das was Mahant of Salona Mut at Bakhri in Begusarai district and was living in the state capital for past 40 years.

On getting information, senior police officials including Senior SP (SSP) Manu Maharaaj, City SP Chandan Kushwaha, ASP Rakesh Dubey, DSP (Law & Order) Sibli Nomani and SDM reached the spot and took stock of the situation. The mediapersons were prevented from entering inside the palatial house spread in over about 15 kattha.

SSP Maharaaj said that prima facie, it seems that both the elderly couple was strangulated to death with help of towel as two towels were recovered from the spot where the bodies were lying. He said that all the commodities in the house were found scattered. He said that both the couples were alone at the house when they were murdered.  Their servant was last seen at the house at around 5 pm on Saturday.  The couple’s son lives in Khagaul and he informed the local police about the tragic killing of his parents at around 9 am on Friday, the SSP said. Their daughter Shalini Sharma lives in UK.

The SSP said that there are different angles behind the murder. Everything would be clear during investigation of the case, he said adding that the police are interrogating the servant. Other domestic helps, who are not present at the house, are being called to elicit information about the killing, the SSP added. He said that the exact reason behind the murder would clear only after police gets the autopsy report. “We are waiting for the FSL experts so that they can lift any evidence from the spot where the couple was found murdered,” the SSP said. The deceased’s family members and relatives also reached the house after getting the news though they did not interact with the media-persons.

As the news of murder of elderly couple spread in the locality, a large number of people gathered outside Salona Kunj. Policemen from neighbouring police stations were also called there. Some of the locals revealed that they saw the main gate of the house open till 1 am on Saturday night. One of them said that he was seeing the family residing here for the past 40 years. The locals in a hush hush manner attributed the murder to some property dispute. Even some of the police officers present said that the couple was killed due to some property dispute.

The entire campus wore a deserted look with saplings of different vegetables could be seen in the open space inside the sprawling bungalow. Several trees were also seen on  the campus with three servant rooms locked when the mediapersons were allowed entry inside the campus. The main building where the couple lived is well maintained as several flowers pots were seen inside.