Ara: A wedding celebration in Laharpa village turned into a tragic bloodbath late Sunday night as two friends were gunned down in a suspected revenge attack, while a teenage boy injured in the firing succumbed during treatment on Monday.
The deceased have been identified as Rahul Kumar (25) and Lavkush Kumar (26), both from Nawada area of Ara, and Appu Kumar (16), a resident of Laharpa village. Rahul and Lavkush were reportedly targeted due to an old rivalry involving local contractor Bablu Singh, son of former Mukhiya Prema Devi.
‘They will kill me’: Last call before the ambush
Rahul had made a desperate phone call to his friend Lavkush during the wedding function: “Lavkush, come quickly, some people have surrounded me. They will kill me,” he said.
Lavkush, who was recording the ceremony, immediately rushed out and got into Rahul’s car. Moments later, assailants opened fire. Lavkush was shot in the jaw and died on the spot. Rahul tried to flee but was chased and shot dead 15 meters away from the vehicle. Police confirmed at least seven rounds were fired.
Appu Kumar, who had come to attend the wedding, was injured by a stray bullet and died during treatment on Monday. In total, more than six people were injured, including children as young as 5 and 9 years old.
Panic, chaos, and fear
The sudden gunfire created panic. Guests, including women and elderly people, ran for cover during the jaimala ritual. Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene, with shoes, slippers, and broken car windows scattered at the venue. Due to fear of retaliation, most injured persons avoided going to hospitals.
Protests and grief: Bodies on the road for 7 hours
The grieving families and villagers blocked the road with the bodies from 6 am to 1 pm on Monday, demanding justice and compensation. The foul smell from the bodies prompted relatives to spray perfume to manage the stench.
Lavkush’s wife Seema said, “The accused should be hanged. I have two small children. Who will care for them now?” Lavkush had recently returned from Jaipur after a friend’s request.
Rahul’s wife Anju, who is five months pregnant, said, “Our family is shattered. My husband kept getting threats, and now he’s gone. We have three children, one of whom is physically challenged.”
Long-standing rivalry behind the bloodshed
Police suspect the murders were an act of revenge. In September 2022, Bablu Singh was shot in Ara. Rahul and Lavkush were accused in that case and had recently been released on bail. Locals say the killings were a planned retaliation after three years.
An FIR has been registered against eight people, including Bablu Singh, his father Ramesh Singh (husband of ex-Mukhiya Prema Devi), and others. Two accused—Ramesh Singh and Ritesh Singh—have been arrested. Three police teams are hunting for the remaining accused.
Political heat and demand for justice
The incident has sparked political uproar. CPI(ML) District Secretary Jawaharlal Singh blamed the “double engine government” for the rise in attacks on Dalits and backward classes.
“This was a planned massacre. All accused must be arrested and sentenced swiftly. The families of the deceased should get ₹10 lakh compensation and guaranteed security,” he said.
Ara MP Sudama Prasad visited the grieving families, joined the funeral procession, and promised support for justice and aid.
SP’s statement
Bhojpur SP Raj confirmed the sequence of events and said the matter is under investigation from multiple angles. “Whether Bablu Singh was present at the crime scene is being verified. We are examining the conspiracy angle,” he said.
