A clerk associated with the registry court was shot dead in Bihar's Araria district on Saturday, police said, in an attack that followed a collision between his car and a pickup vehicle in the Kursakanta police station area. The victim was identified as Amit Bhagat.

Source: IANS via hi INDiA

According to Devendra Nath Bhagat, a relative of the deceased, Amit Bhagat was travelling towards Pahunsi village in his car, registration BR 38 Q 8467, when a Bolero pickup, registration BR 11 G 5613, coming from the Balchanda side, allegedly rammed into his vehicle near Pohsi Panchayat. An argument reportedly followed, during which the pickup's occupants allegedly opened fire, and a bullet struck Bhagat in the head.

A police team led by Kuari police station SHO Vikas Kumar reached the spot and arranged for the injured clerk to be taken to the Primary Health Centre in Kursakanta. He succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Purnea for treatment, police said.

Old dispute suspected, raids under way

Police said two empty cartridges were recovered from the spot and a Forensic Science Laboratory team was called in to collect evidence and examine the scene. SDPO Sushil Kumar said an old dispute was suspected to be the reason behind the murder, according to the reports.

No arrests had been reported at the time of the latest reports. Police said raids were being conducted to arrest the accused, who fled after the shooting, and to identify all the occupants of the pickup. The allegations described by the family and police remain under investigation.

The killing, on a day when families in the district were celebrating Chhath Puja, triggered panic in the area, reports said. Police said the investigation would establish the sequence of events and the motive.