Family Returning From Chhath Puja Shot Over 'Love Affair' In Bihar, 2 Killed

Six members of a family in Bihar have been shot at over a suspected love affair, police said adding two members have been killed in firing.

Two members of a family were shot dead and four others were injured in Bihar's Punjabi Mohalla after a 25-year-old man opened fire miffed at his advances being rejected by a girl of the family. The incident took place in Bihar's Lakhisarai district when the family was returning from the Chhath ghat after offering prayers on the final day of the festival. 

The accused has been identified as Ashish Chaudhary, news agency PTI reported.  District Magistrate Amarendra Kumar told PTI, "The assailant was in love with a girl belonging to the family and had been sore ever since his advances were spurned. He fled the spot after the shooting spree. The injured persons were rushed to a local hospital where doctors referred them to Patna for better treatment."

Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar said the deceased, Chandan Jha and Rajnandan Jha, were the girl's brothers while sister Durga Jha and father Shashi Bhushan Jha were injured in the incident.

Apart from them, Lovely Devi, married to one of the deceased, and another relative Preeti Devi were also injured in the firing.

Kumar said, "Six members of a family were shot over a 'love affair' in Punjabi Mohalla under the Kabaiya police station of Lakhisarai (Bihar). The victims were returning from Chhath Ghat after performing 'arghya'. Two people died while four others were injured."

"The incident took place in Punjabi Mohalla. 6-7 members of a family were returning from Chhath Ghat when a man, Ashish Chaudhary who used to stay in front of the victim's house opened fire on them. Six people were shot, out of which two are dead and three are seriously injured. Ashish Chaudhary wanted to marry a girl belonging to the victim's family but they were not ready for this. We are conducting an investigation, the accused will be arrested soon," he added.

Reacting to the incident, Bihar opposition leader Vijay Kumar Sinha said, "The information I received is that four people have died and this is genocide...Law and Order have failed completely, a murderer is being saved. They divert cases by saying love affair, land conflict, personal conflict...This is complete anarchy."