Khagaria: A mother and her son were brutally murdered in the early hours of Monday in Mahddipur village, Khagaria district, allegedly over a long-standing land dispute, police said.
The victims have been identified as Phula Devi, 60, and her 35-year-old son, Pankaj Kumar. According to police, the two were attacked while asleep in their home. Both were shot, and Kumar’s throat was reportedly slit with a sickle. The incident occurred in the Pasraha police station area and has sparked fear and unrest in the community.
Family members allege the killings are linked to a simmering conflict over eight bighas (approximately 5 acres) of agricultural land. Savita Kumari, daughter of Phula Devi and sister of the deceased man, claimed the assailants broke into the house in the night and first shot her mother in the face. Her brother was killed while trying to flee.
“My mother was shot in the nose. Then my brother was chased, shot, and his neck was cut with a sickle,” Savita told local media. “This is revenge. The accused’s mother was earlier murdered during a land dispute, and my father is already in jail for that case.”
Confirming the deaths, Assistant Sub-Inspector Narendra Singh said: “Both victims were killed using firearms and sharp weapons. It appears to be the fallout of a long-running feud.”
Police say that Phula Devi’s husband, Satan Singh, remains in custody over the earlier land dispute and the death of a woman related to the current accused. They believe the latest killings may be retaliatory.
The bodies have been sent to Khagaria Sadar Hospital for postmortem examination, and police have launched raids to locate and apprehend the suspects.
