Muzaffarpur: A man in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district was shot and his wife assaulted in a violent attack allegedly carried out by his own father and brother, reportedly over an intercaste marriage. The incident took place on Tuesday in Pakahi village under Maniyari police station limits.
Anil Kumar, the victim, was admitted to Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. According to police, Kumar accused his father, Shivji Rai, and brother, Arvind Rai, of carrying out the assault. Both men have been taken into custody for questioning.
In his statement to the police, Kumar claimed he had married outside his caste in 2014, a union that had been vehemently opposed by his family. As a result, he had been living separately with his wife and children. On 22 July, Kumar returned to his ancestral home with his family, at which point, he says, his car was taken from him. Shortly before the attack, his father and brother allegedly arrived at the scene with five other men, assaulted him, and opened fire. His wife and children, who tried to intervene, were also beaten, he said.
Maniyari Station House Officer Devbrata Kumar confirmed the arrests and said further action would follow after recording full statements from the victim and his wife.
Intercaste marriages remain a sensitive issue in parts of Bihar, where societal acceptance is limited despite government efforts to incentivise such unions. Violence within families over caste-based relationships is not uncommon.
