By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: A youth identified as Ashish Raj was killed in firing that followed clash between two groups at Rajendra Colony locality of Naugachhia town yesterday.
The victim a second-year student of a private teachers training college here, reportedly sustained gun shot injury while he was watching and preparing video of the clash from rooftop of his house located in the lane where clash occurred.
The victim was initially taken to sub divisional hospital from where he was referred to Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital here. He was declared dead by doctors at medical college hospital. It is not clear yet whether Ashish Raj son of a hardware businessman was killed intentionally or accidentally. A video clipping depicting clash between the two groups had gone viral after the incident.
Two men possessing arms could be seen in the video clip. The viral video clip depicts clash between the groups and subsequent firing. The genuineness of the video clip is being investigated by Naugachhia police. As per available information members of clashing groups were respectively supporters of Dabloo Yadav husband of Naugachhia Nagar Parishad chairman Preeti Kumari and Manish Singh, councilor of ward no 10.
In connection with the incident a FIR was lodged late last evening at Naugachia PS by Sachin Raj, brother of the victim. Six persons have been named accused in the FIR, as per available information.Meanwhile two persons namely Sonu Kumar Yadav and Kamla Pd Yadav who had arms with them in course of the clash and had allegedly resorted to firing were arrested by police today.
Sushant Kumar Saroj, SP, Naugachia talking with media persons confirmed arrest of both the aforesaid persons. The persons who have been arrested possessed licensed arms of Dabloo Yadav, husband of Nagar Parishad chairman and Pappu Yadav, a mukhiya, he informed.
Giving details about the incident SP said in course of Holi celebrations yesterday there was some dispute between two parties. Jyotish Bhagat and Ramesh Bhagat were in a party while Rajeev Thakur and Sanjeev Thakur were in another party involved in the dispute.
Following dispute Jyotish Bhagat and Ramesh Bhagat approached councilor of ward no 10 for support while Rajeev Thakur and Sanjeev Thakur approached husband of chairman, Nagar Parishad, SP informed. Involvement of Dabloo Yadav and Manish Singh in dispute subsequently led to clash and firing.
He said those arrested in connection with the incident were nabbed from house of Dabloo Yadav. Efforts have been stepped up to nab others named in the FIR the SP further said adding apart from those named in FIR others found involved in the incident would also be arrested soon. SP confirmed the youth killed in firing was innocent and had nothing to do with clash.
In the meantime, to register protest against the incident at Naugachhia agitated people resorted to road blockade on NH-31 for hours today. Traffic movement on national highway was affected because of the blockade. The blockade was lifted after police officials assured strong action against culprits.
