Tea vendor shot dead while trying to catch chain snatchers in Darbhanga

Patna: A 45-year-old man was shot dead while trying to catch two chain snatchers who were fleeing on a bike near Durga Mandir at Hasan Chowk under the University police station area in Darbhanga district on Wednesday morning.

The victim, identified as Shravan Kumar, a resident of Hasan Chowk, died during treatment at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

According to police, Shravan ran a tea and snacks stall near Rambagh gate on the university campus. Following the incident, locals staged a protest by burning tyres on the DMCH road, demanding the arrest of the accused at the earliest.

Eyewitnesses said Amit Kumar Singh had stepped out to buy milk when two criminals on a bike tried to snatch his gold chain. When Amit resisted and raised an alarm, Shravan moved forward to catch the snatchers. The criminals then shot him in the chest and fled.

Shravan’s younger brother, Manoj Kumar, said, “I was at home when I got the news that my brother had been shot. When I reached, he was lying injured. With help from police and locals, we took him to DMCH, where doctors declared him dead during treatment.”

University SHO Sudhir Kumar said two miscreants on a bike were involved in the murder. “We are scanning CCTV footage and conducting raids to identify and arrest the accused. Further investigation is underway,” he added.