Patna: Two brothers were shot dead at a wedding reception in Shahpur village in the Gopalpur area in Phulwarisharif on Sunday night, in what police suspect was a retaliatory attack linked to a longstanding land dispute.
The victims, Manish Kumar and Manjeet Kumar, were attending a reception held after the wedding of Vicky, son of local resident Daulat Rai. According to officials, the brothers were dining at the feast when a group of armed men arrived and opened fire.
Eyewitnesses said that between 26 and 27 rounds were fired in rapid succession, targeting the two men at close range. Both brothers were struck multiple times in the chest and upper body, causing panic among guests. One of the victims is reported to have died at the scene, while both were later taken to hospital, where doctors declared them dead.
Police from Gopalpur station, along with the DSP Sadar 2, SP City East Parsa Bazar and officers from Ramakrishna Nagar, reached the spot shortly after the incident. Additional forces were deployed as a precaution, and raids were launched to apprehend the accused.
According to preliminary investigations, the attack may be linked to an old land dispute between Raju Rai, the father of the deceased, and his cousin Krishna Rai. The matter was reportedly pending in court, and villagers said Krishna Rai had recently lost the case, allegedly fuelling tensions between the families.
Residents claimed that around 10 to 12 individuals associated with Krishna Rai’s family entered the venue without warning and began firing. The sudden violence at what had been a celebratory gathering left the village in shock.
A heavy police presence remains in the area as investigations continue. No official statement has yet confirmed arrests, but officers said efforts were under way to identify and detain those responsible.
