A suspected shooter linked to the murder of retired Income Tax Department officer Ram Pukar Singh was injured in a police encounter in Bhojpur district, Bihar, on the morning of Friday, 6 November. The accused, Nirmal Yadav, sustained a bullet injury in his right leg below the knee during the confrontation near Sarangpur Mor under the Bahoranpur police station area, and was subsequently arrested.

How the Encounter Unfolded

Bhojpur Superintendent of Police Awadhesh Dixit said Nirmal Yadav, a resident of Chandwa Housing Colony under Nawada police station, had already been detained in connection with the murder. During interrogation, Yadav reportedly disclosed the location where he had concealed the firearm used in the crime, prompting investigators to take him to Sarangpur Mor for weapon recovery.

According to SP Dixit, Yadav allegedly opened fire on the police team in an apparent bid to escape. “After seeing him open fire, the police warned him to surrender, but he continued shooting. In self-defence, the police retaliated, during which he sustained a bullet injury in his leg,” SP Dixit said. Yadav was arrested at the scene and admitted to Ara Sadar Hospital for treatment.

The October 15 Murder of Ram Pukar Singh

The case stems from the killing of Ram Pukar Singh on 15 October near Jain College on Maharaja Hata-Katira Station Road in Ara, under the Nawada police station area. Singh, a retired Assistant Commissioner of the Income Tax Department and president of the Kshatriya Kalyan Sangathan, was shot dead by unidentified assailants. According to police, the attackers fired seven rounds at him, with bullets striking his chest and killing him on the spot.

Family Allegations and Land Dispute Motive

The deceased’s wife, Sushila Devi, has alleged that a long-standing dispute over a 14-kattha plot of valuable land was the motive behind the murder. She also claimed that her husband had received death threats prior to the killing. Notably, in her formal complaint, Sushila Devi raised allegations against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Mufassil police station and the Circle Officer (CO), accusing them of involvement in the conspiracy. Police have confirmed that these allegations are part of the ongoing investigation.

Investigation Progress

Following the murder, Bhojpur Police launched a probe based on statements from the victim’s family and physical evidence collected at the crime scene. Scientific and technical evidence subsequently helped investigators identify and detain suspects, leading to Yadav’s arrest. Police say they are continuing their investigation to establish the complete sequence of events and identify all individuals involved in the alleged conspiracy. This comes amid broader concerns about targeted killings of retired government officials in Bihar, where such cases have occasionally drawn attention to law enforcement accountability.