In a daring incident in Bhagalpur district, a utensil shop owner, Ranjit Verma, was shot inside his shop by unidentified assailants near Rahamaniganj under Kajraili police station late Saturday night. Critically injured, Verma was admitted to Mayaganj Hospital in Bhagalpur with the help of locals and the police. Following the incident, residents apprehended one attacker on the spot, while two other assailants abandoned their bikes and fled.

The injured, Ranjit Verma, 37, is the son of Basudev Verma, a resident of Goradih police station area. Verma had been living and operating his utensil shop in Gaur Chowki, under Kajraili police station, for about a year. According to the police, Ranjit Verma was previously an accused in the prominent Sumesh Mandal murder case in Goradih and had spent approximately one year in jail for it.

Basudev Verma, the victim's father, stated that after closing his shop on Saturday night, Ranjit was sleeping inside while he slept outside. Around 2 AM, three armed individuals on a motorcycle arrived, forced Ranjit to open the shop, and then fired three shots at him. One bullet grazed his temple, while others struck him, causing severe injuries. Hearing the gunshots, neighbors rushed to the scene and caught one assailant. His two accomplices escaped under the cover of darkness, leaving their bikes behind. Kajraili police arrived, took the arrested suspect into custody, and transported the injured to Mayaganj Hospital.

The family suspects old enmity as the motive, citing a long-standing dispute with some neighbors in their native village of Goradih. Kajraili Station House Officer Gautam Kumar confirmed that preliminary investigations suggest the incident is linked to an old rivalry. Police are actively raiding locations to apprehend the two absconding accused and are thoroughly investigating all aspects of the case.