Land Dispute Escalates to Fatal Shooting in Patna Village
In a tragic incident rooted in a long-standing property conflict, a 35-year-old woman was shot dead outside her residence in Meura village, located under the Athmalgola police station area of Patna district. The murder occurred on Tuesday morning, with police attributing it to an old land dispute that had simmered for years.
Victim Identified as Disabled Homemaker
The deceased has been identified as Meena Devi, wife of Raghuvansh Yadav. According to family members, Meena Devi was disabled in one leg and succumbed to two bullet wounds, one of which struck her in the head. Her husband, Raghuvansh, is also disabled and makes a modest living by selling samosas and chaat in the local area.
Background of the Property Conflict
The conflict traces back to the division of property among three brothers. Raghuvansh Yadav was constructing a house on his allocated share of land when his elder brother, Shlok Yadav, vehemently objected, claiming additional land beyond his portion. As tensions mounted, Shlok and his son, Surya Bhushan, allegedly resorted to violence.
It is suspected that Shlok initially intended to target his younger brother, Raghuvansh, but ended up shooting Meena Devi instead. She was sweeping the floor outside her house when the attack occurred. Three rounds were fired during the incident. Both Shlok Yadav and Surya Bhushan are currently absconding, evading law enforcement.
Family and Villager Accounts
The youngest brother, Paramhans, provided details, stating that Shlok had returned home at 9 PM on Monday after being away for several days. "There was no recent quarrel, but at around 4 AM on Tuesday, he came to Raghuvansh and murdered his sister-in-law," he alleged. Shlok had been demanding an extra 5 kattha of land, and although a panchayat was held earlier, resulting in him being given 2 kattha separately, the dispute persisted.
Villagers revealed that Shlok has two sons—Chandrabhushan and Suryabhushan. Notably, Chandrabhushan is currently incarcerated in connection with a triple murder case. Police records indicate that the brothers have had repeated altercations over land, highlighting a pattern of familial discord.
Police Response and Investigation
Barh SDPO-II, Ayush Srivastava, confirmed that information about the murder was received around 5 AM. He emphasized that the incident stemmed from a personal and land-related dispute. SP (Rural) Kundan Kumar visited the crime scene and outlined the investigative measures.
"A special team, under the leadership of the SDPO, has been formed to arrest the accused. The murder was carried out in a pre-planned manner. The brothers had been embroiled in a dispute for a long time. The body was sent to a government hospital for postmortem," he stated, underscoring the deliberate nature of the crime.
The case underscores the severe consequences of unresolved land disputes in rural areas, with authorities now intensifying efforts to apprehend the fugitives and bring justice to the victim's family.
