PACS president shot dead in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Some unidentified armed miscreants shot dead Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) president, Basauri panchayat, in Bhojpur district, Nagesh Pandey alias Chhotkun Pandey, between Jaisidih and Manaini villages under Piro police station on June 7, 2018,  night, when he was returning to his native village Sikraul under Sikarhatta police station on his four-wheeler. He was son of Kamta Pandey.

Police brought the body over to Ara Sadar Hospital for post-mortem. A war of attrition between two groups of village Sikraul after 2010 state assembly elections is said to be the cause behind the incident. Tension prevails in and around the area following the incident. Police force under Piro DSP Reshu Krishna is camping at the village. Police recovered seven blank cartridges from the spot.

Bhojpur SP Awakash Kumar Said that at least half a dozen armed miscreants on three motorcycles fired on indiscriminately on Nagesh Pandey alias Chhotkun Pandey between Jaisidih and Manaini villages under Piro police station on June 7, 2018, night, when he was returning to his village after meeting his relatives at Jaisidih village on his four wheeler. They pumped seven bullets into his body killing him on spot, the SP said adding it was retaliatory murder.

The SP said that Nagesh Pandey and Munna Singh alias Dharmendra Singh of Sikraul village developed enmity after assembly election in 2010. The then PACS president, Basauri panchayat, Munna Singh alias Dharmendra Singh, 32, son of Kameshwar Singh of Sikraul village under Sikarhatta police station was killed at Jagdeonagar locality under Nawada police station, Ara, on September 18, 2011. A named FIR was lodged with Nawada police station on the statement of the deceased’s brother Manoj Singh against four persons including Nagesh Pandey alias Chhotkun Pandey, and his elder brother Rajesh Pandey alias Badkun Pandey. Both the brothers were arrested and sent to jail but later they were released on bail.

In retaliation, Rajesh Pandey alias Badkun Pandey, elder brother of Nagesh Pandey was killed on December 24, 2016, when he was getting a hair cut at a salon at Fatehpur Bazaar under Sikarhatta police station. Family members of Munna Singh were made named accused in the FIR in the murder of Rajesh Pandey, the SP said. On February 10, 2017, Prakash, son of Umashankar Singh of Sikraul village, was shot at and injured near Bachari village on Piro-Khutaha main road under Piro police station. He was allegedly wanted in the murder of Rajesh Pandey alias Badkun Pandey. Again on December 14, 2017, two groups had clashed and fired about 30 rounds though no casualty was reported at that time.

The SP stated that police are investigating the matter and searching for the miscreants and hoped that police would arrest them at the earliest. He said that situation is well under control and police force have been deployed in the area and patrolling intensified.