A 35-year-old spice trader, Pintu Kumar Sao, was fatally shot in Patna City's Musallahpur Hatt area on Thursday evening during a scheduled 15-minute blackout mock drill. The incident occurred around 7 pm when Pintu, a local resident who ran a garlic, spice, and grocery shop in the vegetable market, was sitting at his stall. An unidentified assailant approached him, fired at close range from approximately 10 feet, and fled on a bike.
Investigation launched
A police team from Sultanganj thana arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting and began an investigation. A forensic team was called to gather evidence, and the body was sent to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for post-mortem examination.
Targeted killing suspected
Patna City SDPO-I Raj Kishore Singh stated that the attack took place during the blackout period from 7 pm to 7:15 pm. “The attacker fired from around 10 feet and escaped on a bike. No robbery took place, indicating a targeted killing over an old dispute,” he said. Police are probing a week-old dispute as a possible motive.
The blackout rendered nearby CCTV cameras non-functional, delaying the identification of the suspect. A murder case has been registered, and raids are underway to apprehend the perpetrator.
Pintu Kumar Sao is survived by his family, who are in shock following the incident. The local community has expressed concern over the brazen attack occurring in a busy market area during a power cut.
