4 murders in 20 days: Patna cops still clueless

PATNA: Police are still groping in the dark in the four murder cases in Patna district in the last 20 days.
A property dealer, Ajay Shukla (40), was shot dead during morning walk near Vishnupuri in Beur area on August 12. Later, on August 20 night, unidentified armed criminals shot dead Rajkumar Sao alias Pintu Sao (40), the husband of Baank panchayat’s former mukhiya Asha Devi, near Painal in Bihta.
Next morning, police recovered the body of Siddhnath Lal (55) from behind a temple at Rajpur village in Bihta.Assailants had smashed his head with a heavy object.
At around midnight of August 21, sand smugglers shot dead a farmer, Munna Rai (45), at Amnabad village in the riverine belt of Sone in Bihta. Next morning, police recovered the body of an electrician, Varun Thakur (35), dumped in a field covered with vegetation near entrance of the Air Force station at Bihta.
When asked, Beur police station SHO Amit Kumar said police are yet to ascertain the reason behind Shukla’s murder. “His family members have lodged an FIR against unknown persons. Police are trying to ascertain the identity of the four shooters,” he said.
Bihta police station SHO Rituraj Kumar Singh said the reasons and killers involved in Lal’s murder had been ascertained. “The killer is a 30-year-old ill-tempered man known for his erratic behaviour. He is evading arrest. Police have come to know that he had a heated argument with Lal before the incident. Police have also come to know that the accused used to assault his wife, parents and other family members on petty issues. We will nab him soon,” he said.
Singh said none had been arrested in the murder cases of Sao, Rai and Thakur. “Rai’s killers, who are from Bhojpur, are evading arrest. Named accused in the Sao’s murder case are also untraceable. Investigation is going on. Nothing can be said until killers or conspirators are arrested,” he said.
Singh said there are a few suspects in Thakur’s murder. “Reason behind his killing is unclear,” he added.