A sub-inspector was critically injured after being shot in the abdomen and an alleged assailant was killed by a mob in Ojhaul village of Darbhanga district, Bihar, in the early hours of Friday, 27 June 2025. The violence erupted around 4.30 am and has since prompted heavy police deployment across the village.

What Happened

The injured officer, Sub-Inspector Md. Mobin, was posted at the Patna Civil Court and had returned to his native village on leave two days before the incident. According to police sources and residents, the deceased — identified as Sunil Sahani, a resident of the same village — arrived with several associates in the early hours and allegedly damaged decorative lights installed near an Imambara ahead of Muharram celebrations.

Villagers objected to the act, triggering a confrontation. Sub-Inspector Mobin reportedly stepped in to de-escalate the situation, at which point Sahani allegedly opened fire, striking the officer in the abdomen. Mobin was rushed to a private hospital in Darbhanga's Allapatti area, where his condition remains critical.

Mob Violence and Death of the Accused

Following the shooting, residents and bystanders chased and overpowered Sahani as he attempted to flee. According to police, the crowd assaulted him and used sharp-edged weapons, resulting in his death at the scene. Investigators subsequently recovered two spent cartridges and a blood-stained farsa — a traditional axe-like weapon — from the site. The pistol allegedly used in the shooting remains missing; police say an unidentified individual may have taken it from the scene.

Background and Earlier Tensions

Local residents allege that tensions involving Sunil Sahani stretch back several years, reportedly linked to an interfaith marriage that took place approximately three years ago. Villagers claim Sahani had married Sania, the daughter of a local resident related to Sub-Inspector Mobin, and that family members had opposed the union. Police officials, however, have not confirmed any direct connection between this earlier dispute and Friday's violence. Authorities also noted that Sahani had previous criminal cases registered against him, and residents alleged his involvement in other violent incidents in recent months — claims that are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

Police Response and Investigation

Darbhanga Senior Superintendent of Police Jagunath Reddy Jalareddy visited Ojhaul village to assess the situation and directed officers to identify and arrest others who may have accompanied Sahani during the incident. A forensic team has collected evidence from the crime scene. Additional security personnel have been stationed outside the post-mortem facility at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital. Officers at Bahadurpur police station confirmed that raids are underway to trace the associates who were allegedly present with Sahani.

Authorities stated that the situation in the village is currently under control, while parallel investigations into the shooting of the police officer and the subsequent mob killing continue.