Gayaji: A young man was shot dead late Thursday night while celebrating at a Durga puja pandal in Gayaji, leaving the local community shocked. The victim, 19-year-old Rohit Kumar, was dancing with friends when a neighbour, identified as Mohit, allegedly fired a gun at him. Rohit was hit in the chest and died instantly at the scene. The accused fled immediately, leaving his motorbike behind, which was later vandalised by angry locals.
Rohit’s sister, Priyanka Shekhar, spoke tearfully about the incident to visiting regional MLA Virendra Singh. “My brother died in my lap, writhing in pain. He had no chance to survive,” she said. She alleged that Mohit had a history of conflict with the family, including a previous attack on her with an iron chain. According to her, the families had attempted to settle their differences in the past, but Mohit’s resentment remained.
Local residents said the two families had been in conflict for several months, stemming from a burglary at Rohit’s father’s cement rod shop. Rohit’s elder brother had also clashed with Mohit over the incident. On the night of the murder, Mohit reportedly approached Rohit and his friends, provoked them, and then shot Rohit after saying, “Shoot me.” The tragedy unfolded within moments, and the victim could not be saved despite the efforts of people nearby.
The police have taken the accused’s family members for questioning while Mohit remains at large. SK Dwivedi, in charge of Mufassil police station, said the motive for the murder is still being investigated and the accused will be arrested soon. The killing is the third in the district in the past 15 hours, following the murders of Deepak Kumar Gupta in Sherghati and another young man in the Brahma Van area under suspicious circumstances. Residents have expressed fear and anger over the rising incidents of violence.
