Muzaffarpur woman, 70, shot dead; third killing in family in 5 years, SIT formed
A 70-year-old woman was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district late Saturday night, marking the third murder in the same family in
A 70-year-old woman was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district late Saturday night, marking the third murder in the same family in the past five years and prompting police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The victim, identified as Marchhiya Devi, wife of Baldev Pandit, was killed in Ramtohma village under the Panapur OP police station area. According to police, unknown attackers opened fire on her late at night, killing her on the spot. Read Full Story The incident triggered panic in the village and drew senior police officers to the crime scene.
DSP East-1 Alay Vats, Rural SP Rajesh Singh Prabhakar and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kantesh Kumar Mishra visited the spot to oversee the investigation. Police recovered a spent cartridge from the scene. Investigators said the killing is the third murder involving members of the same family since 2021. In January 2021, a family member, Rameshwar Pandit, was murdered. Nearly three years later, in December 2023, Sunita Devi, the wife of Marchhiya Devi's grandson, was also killed. With the latest shooting, three members of the family have been murdered in separate incidents over a five-year period.
The series of killings has left residents shocked and raised concerns about a possible connection between the crimes. SSP Mishra said the latest murder was carried out by unidentified assailants and that an SIT has been formed to investigate the case and identify those responsible. Police said no clear evidence of a family feud, personal enmity or land dispute has emerged so far. Investigators are examining all possible angles, including whether the killings could be linked or the work of a repeat offender.
Officials said it would be premature to draw conclusions until the investigation is completed. The SIT has begun examining the circumstances surrounding the murder and is working to establish a motive and identify the attackers. Police presence in the village has also been increased as a precautionary measure. Ends With inputs from Manibhushan Sharma
The BriefWire