NALANDA: A 26-year-old youth, Suraj Paswan alias Sunny, was shot dead in broad daylight on Monday in Serthua Khurd village, Khudahganj police station area. According to reports, criminals first surrounded and severely beat the victim. When he tried to flee, they opened fire, hitting him twice in the head and once in the leg, resulting in his instantaneous death. The incident has created an atmosphere of fear in the village.

The deceased, Suraj Paswan, was the son of Devnandan Paswan, a resident of Serthua Khurd village. Initial police investigations suggest old enmity as the primary motive for the murder. However, local discussions also point towards a land dispute as a possible cause.

According to family members, Suraj left home around 11 AM on Monday to bring a tractor from Patti Bigha village. On his way, he was ambushed by eight to ten individuals from the same village. The accused brutally assaulted him. As he attempted to escape, the assailants fired multiple shots. He collapsed on the road after being hit. Villagers rushed to the scene upon hearing the gunshots, but the accused had already fled, brandishing their weapons.

Upon receiving information about the incident, Khudahganj Station House Officer Durgesh Kumar Gehlot arrived with police personnel and immediately took the critically injured youth to Islampur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. An FSL team collected forensic evidence from the crime scene. Hilsa DSP-2 Kumar Rishiraj stated that preliminary investigations reveal a case of old enmity. The police are investigating all angles and conducting raids to apprehend the culprits. After the post-mortem, the body was handed over to the family. Further legal action will be taken once a written application is received from the family.