A relative of Nityanand Rai, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, was shot dead, allegedly by his brother, on Thursday morning. Police said the shooting was over a dispute about tap water at their residence in Jagatpur village of Bhagalpur’s Nawgachia. Their mother also sustained gunshot injuries in the altercation.
“Prima facie, it appears that the dispute between the two brothers arose over a water tap, which escalated and led to both shooting at each other. The deceased has been identified as Vishwajit Yadav, while the injured is Jayajit, who has been referred for advanced treatment. A shell casing and a live cartridge have been recovered from the scene,” said Nawgachia Superintendent of Police Prerna Kumari.
Police say they are ascertaining how the family is related to the Union Minister, and prima facie, it appears the victim is the son of his cousin sister.
An altercation erupted early Thursday morning between the wives of Vishwajit and Jayajit over filling water from a supply tap, SHO Parbatta, Shambhu Paswan, said.
According to police, Jayajit confronted Vishwajit while he was drawing water, insisting that the tap belonged to him. This escalated into a physical altercation, during which Vishwajit allegedly shot at Jayajit, who seized Vishwajit’s weapon and fired back. Their mother, Hina Devi, who came in between the siblings to meditate, also sustained a gunshot to her arm, police said.
All three were rushed to a private nursing home in Bhagalpur, where Vishwajit was pronounced dead on arrival. “Jayajit remains in a critical condition and has been referred for advanced medical treatment,” an officer said.
Police said that a team from the forensic science laboratory had been called to collect evidence.
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Authorities are looking into Jayajit’s criminal record. According to locals, though the brothers lived in the same house, they had a longstanding dispute.
Himanshu Harsh is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, currently leading on-the-ground coverage in Bihar. With a reporting career rooted in the complexities of the National Capital Region (NCR), Himanshu specializes in the critical intersection of law, crime, and civic governance.
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An alumnus of the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Delhi, Himanshu brings a rigorous academic foundation to his investigative work. His expertise is characterized by a "ground-up" reporting style, most notably demonstrated during his extensive coverage of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where he analyzed shifting political landscapes and grassroots sentiment.
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