Dalit couple & son killed

Patna/Bhagalpur: A Dalit couple and their son were bludgeoned to death and their daughter seriously injured when armed men attacked their house in Bhagalpur district late on Saturday night.

Police said over a dozen men killed Kanik Ram (55) and his wife Meena Devi (48) at their house in Jhandapur Harijan Tola under Naugachhia sub-division in Bhagalpur district, around 235 km east of Patna.

Naugachhia sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Mukul Kumar Ranjan said the couple’s children, Chhotu (12) and Bindi Kumari (17), were found with serious injuries and rushed to Bihpur primary health centre from where they were referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital in Bhagalpur, where Chhotu succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

Bindi is fighting for life in hospital.

SDPO Ranjan said the family was sleeping in their house when they were attacked. Senior police and administrative officials visited the spot On Sunday morning and ordered the local police station house officer (SHO) to nab the accused.

“The reason behind the ghastly incident is yet to be ascertained,” Ranjan said, adding that the bodies were sent to the local government hospital for post mortem.

A complaint has been lodged with the Jhandapur police outpost over the murders. The police have not recovered the weapons used.

“Efforts are on to ascertain the identity of the killers,” said Jhandapur police SHO Jawaharlal Singh.

A couple of hours before the family was attacked, armed criminals shot dead a 40-year-old man, identified as Chandrashekhar Yadav, at Bhawanipur Tower Chowk under the jurisdiction of Rangara police outpost in Bhagalpur district.

Police said Chandrashekhar was attacked when he was returning from his agricultural field.

The victim’s father Rash Bihari Yadav, who was present, managed to flee and approach the local police. Two suspects have been detained for interrogation.

Source: Telegraph India