Siwan: A village love affair, a public panchayat, and a perceived humiliation dating back six years have emerged as key elements in the murder of a young man in Bihar’s Siwan district, according to police investigations.
The accused, Pinku Kumar, who was arrested for the murder of his cousin Guddu Singh, allegedly told police that he carried out the killing to avenge an incident in which he was publicly humiliated and slapped by his uncle during a village panchayat in 2020.
According to police, Guddu Singh was shot dead on Tuesday in Pachrukhi police station limits. During interrogation, Pinku reportedly confessed to the crime and revealed a long-standing grudge against his uncle and several villagers.
“I was brought before the panchayat tied up and made to sit on the ground. In front of more than 500 people, my uncle slapped me. I told him I had done nothing wrong and that I was only in love. Instead of supporting me, he sided with the villagers. I wanted to teach him a lesson, so I killed his son,” the accused allegedly told investigators.
Police have also recovered the weapon used in the crime based on information provided by the accused.
Love Affair at the Centre of the Dispute
According to Pinku’s statement, he was involved in a relationship with a girl from a neighbouring village. He told police that the two first met in 2018 while they were students and gradually developed a close relationship.
The couple allegedly planned to marry after becoming adults. Pinku claimed they had even discussed leaving home and settling elsewhere if their families opposed the relationship.
The Incident That Triggered the Feud
Investigators said the dispute traces back to 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the accused, restrictions and family objections prevented the couple from meeting regularly.
Pinku allegedly decided to visit the girl’s house late one night. He told police that he travelled to her village with the help of two friends and entered her house after midnight.
However, villagers reportedly became suspicious of his presence. He was allegedly caught inside the girl’s house, beaten by villagers, and kept restrained overnight.
The following morning, village elders convened a panchayat attended by hundreds of residents. The girl was also brought before the gathering.
According to the accused, he was presented before the assembly with his hands tied and was questioned about his actions. When he defended his relationship, his uncle allegedly slapped him in front of the crowd.
Long-Held Grudge
Pinku told police that the incident left him deeply humiliated and determined to seek revenge.
Investigators said the accused claimed he had been planning retaliation since 2020 and initially intended to target his uncle and three villagers who had allegedly participated in his capture and public humiliation.
For nearly five years, he allegedly looked for opportunities but was unsuccessful. Eventually, he decided to target his cousin Guddu Singh, whom he considered the easiest target.
How the Murder Unfolded
According to family members, Guddu Singh had returned from Saudi Arabia around 20 days before the incident. He had accompanied his father, who is reportedly battling advanced-stage cancer, back to India for medical treatment.
On the day of the murder, Guddu had travelled with his father to a hospital in Patna and returned to the village in the evening. Shortly afterwards, he went to the local market.
His brother Abhishek Singh said the family received a phone call informing them that Guddu had been involved in an altercation. When relatives reached the spot, they found him critically injured with gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
Two Arrested, Weapon Recovered
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, SDPO (Sadar-1) Ajay Kumar Singh said police had arrested both the main accused, Pinku Kumar, and Parvez Alam, who allegedly supplied the firearm used in the murder.
Police said Pinku has no prior criminal record, while Parvez Alam has been named in multiple previous criminal cases.
Based on information provided by the accused, investigators recovered a country-made pistol, a magazine, two live cartridges, and two mobile phones believed to be linked to the crime.
Both accused have been sent to judicial custody, and further investigation is underway.
