Ara: A retired assistant customs commissioner, Ram Kumar Singh (70), was shot dead allegedly by four armed miscreants outside his house in Kanakpuri locality near Jain College under Nawada police station area of Bhojpur district on Thursday morning.Recounting the incident, his elder son, Rajesh Kumar Singh, said he and his father routinely went for morning walks at Ara Ramna Maidan by car. “We had just stepped out of our house. While my father was locking the main shutter when about four miscreants opened fire on him. I was sitting in the car when locals alerted me. My father sustained around gunshot injuries and collapsed. I immediately informed the police. He was rushed to Ara Sadar Hospital but succumbed to his injuries,” he said.Singh was also president of Shahabad Kshatriye Kalyan Mahasabha and was associated with several social and cultural organisations in Ara.Bhojpur SP Awadhesh Kumar Dixit, Ara Sadar SDPO-I Sushil Kumar, Nawada SHO Kumar Rajnikant and other police personnel reached the spot and began an investigation.The SP said, based on information provided by the deceased’s wife and other family members, it appeared that a land dispute was the motive behind the murder. He said Singh had sustained four or five gunshot injuries and police recovered empty cartridges from the spot.The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team and District Intelligence Unit (DIU) were collecting evidence, the SP said, adding that raids were underway to arrest the assailants.Asked about allegations concerning the possible involvement of a police officer and some influential people, the SP said anyone found to be involved in the crime would face strict legal action, irrespective of their position or status.Following the murder, family members and local residents blocked the Ara-Patna road near Sapna Cinema Mor on Thursday, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.“Roads will remain blocked in Ara for a week if the culprits are not arrested immediately. We want capital punishment for those found guilty,” Rajesh said, adding that his father had continued social work after retiring from Bhagalpur.praveensibu@gmail.com
