In a shocking case of mistaken identity, a 25-year-old schoolteacher was brutally murdered in Bihar's Araria district, exposing a chilling plot of contract killing rooted in marital suspicion. The incident, which took place on the morning of December 3 in Narpatganj, has sent ripples through the region, with police cracking the case within 48 hours of the crime.
The Fatal Morning and a Case of Mistaken Identity
Shivani Verma, a teacher at Kanhauli Middle School, was on her way to work on her two-wheeler when her life was tragically cut short. At around 9.20 am, two men on a motorcycle intercepted her. One of the assailants, later identified as Mohammad Sohail, shot her from behind her neck. Shivani was rushed to Araria Sadar Hospital but succumbed to her injuries during treatment.
Initial suspicions pointed towards a personal angle, as her sister's complaint mentioned a fellow teacher who had been persistently proposing marriage to Shivani despite her disinterest. However, a swift police investigation revealed a far more convoluted and tragic truth.
The Conspiracy: Jealousy, Contract Killers, and a Wrong Target
According to Araria SP Anjani Kumar, the seeds of the crime were sown by Husn Ara (also known as Husnan). She suspected her husband was having an affair with a teacher from a primary school in Khabdah village. Consumed by jealousy, she conspired with two intermediaries, Raja and Chhotu, to eliminate the teacher she believed was a threat to her marriage.
The intermediaries arranged a contract killing for Rs 3 lakh, hiring Mohammad Maroof and Mohammad Sohail to execute the plan. The shooters were provided with specific details: the target's name, the type of scooty she rode, her daily route, and her approximate travel time. They even conducted a reconnaissance mission a day before the planned murder.
On the fateful morning of December 3, the killers positioned themselves near the Kanhauli Shiva temple, waiting for their target. In a cruel twist of fate, the intended victim was on leave and did not take her usual route that day. Tragically, Shivani Verma, who rode a similar two-wheeler, passed by at the same time and became the victim of this deadly error.
Swift Police Action and Arrests
Following the complaint filed by Shivani's sister, an SIT (Special Investigation Team) was immediately formed under Forbesganj SDPO Mukesh Kumar Saha. The team, comprising personnel from Narpatganj, Phulkaha, Forbesganj, and Ghurana police stations along with the District Intelligence Unit, leveraged CCTV footage, technical inputs, and scientific analysis of the crime scene to crack the case.
Investigations revealed that after the shooting, the assailants fled via the Khabdah–Dargahiganj route towards the national highway before returning the motorcycle used in the crime. Police first arrested Mohammad Maroof, who confessed to the crime. His confession led to the recovery of the motorcycle and the country-made pistol used in the murder.
Mohammad Sohail was arrested soon after. Further investigation unmasked Husn Ara as the main conspirator, leading to her arrest. Police are currently conducting searches to apprehend the other suspects, Raja and Chhotu, who are still at large.
The murder of Shivani Verma is a stark reminder of how personal vendettas and hired violence can claim innocent lives. The Bihar police's rapid resolution of the case highlights the effectiveness of coordinated efforts, but the tragedy underscores the need for continued vigilance against contract killings and organized crime in the region.
