Could a Land Dispute Lead to a Mother's and Son's Murder in Bihar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mother and son murdered in a suspected land dispute.
- Victims identified as Phul Devi and Pankaj Kumar.
- Investigation reveals a history of enmity between families.
- Police conducting raids to apprehend suspects.
- Case highlights rising land-related violence in Bihar.
Patna, June 23 (NationPress) In a deeply disturbing incident believed to be linked to a land dispute, a mother and her son were discovered dead within their residence in Mahddipur village under the jurisdiction of Pasraha police station in Khagaria district on Monday morning.
The deceased have been identified as Phul Devi (60) and her son Pankaj Kumar (35). Both individuals suffered fatal gunshot wounds, and the perpetrator also utilized a sharp weapon to slit Kumar's throat.
Initial investigations suggest that this heinous act is tied to an ongoing conflict over 8 bighas of land.
The victim’s daughter, Savita Kumari, informed the authorities that the assault took place while her mother and brother were in a state of sleep.
“There has been a longstanding land dispute. My father, Saatan Singh, is currently incarcerated due to this issue. The attackers may have targeted my mother and brother as a form of retaliation for a prior incident resulting in the death of a relative from the opposing party,” she stated.
Law enforcement officials have verified that this occurrence seems to arise from a history of animosity between the two families involved in the property conflict.
“We suspect this violent act was a revenge mission. A thorough investigation is in progress, and operations are being executed to apprehend the perpetrators. The attack likely occurred on Sunday night, and we were notified on Monday morning,” remarked Narendra Singh, ASI of Pasraha police station.
“The family members of the deceased have provided us with names of potential suspects. Consequently, we have registered an FIR under the relevant sections of murder. Active raids are underway to capture the suspects who remain at large,” Singh added.
The corpses have been retrieved by our team and dispatched for post-mortem examinations at Sadar Hospital, Khagaria. We have also summoned the FSL team to investigate the crime scene and gather evidence,” Singh stated.
This case has heightened concerns regarding land-related violence in rural Bihar, where such disputes frequently escalate into severe criminal acts.