In a shocking incident on Tuesday evening, Pankaj Rai, a newly elected councillor and a member of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was shot dead near his home in Hajipur, Bihar. Rai was at a clothing shop when three men on a motorcycle opened fire on him. Despite his attempt to escape by running into his house, the attackers pursued him inside and shot him multiple times. Three bullets struck Rai, and despite efforts by his family and neighbors to rush him to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival.
The entire incident was captured on CCTV, with footage showing the moment the assailants fired at Rai. This footage has since surfaced online, adding to the public outcry over the murder.
The incident has sparked strong reactions from RJD leaders. Former Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav condemned the murder, blaming the Nitish Kumar-led government for failing to maintain law and order in the state. Yadav expressed his outrage, saying, “NDA goons led by Nitish Kumar shot dead ward councillor Pankaj Rai in Hajipur at night. The Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers are sleeping peacefully while their goons are creating mayhem.”
According to a report by NDTV, Rai had previously filed a complaint regarding a dispute six months prior to his murder, but his family claims that no action was taken by the authorities. In response to the killing, senior police officials, including Superintendent of Police Har Kishore Rai, visited the crime scene and the hospital to gather details and provide reassurance to the bereaved family. The police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify the suspects.
RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan, who visited the hospital, also criticized the state government’s handling of law and order, calling Rai’s murder a sign of “jungle-raj” in Bihar. “Pankaj Rai was an active worker of the RJD. His murder is a testament to the fact that lawmakers are not safe even inside their own homes,” Roshan remarked.
The brutal killing of Pankaj Rai has reignited concerns about the safety of political figures in Bihar and the overall law and order situation in the state, with RJD leaders calling for immediate action to bring the culprits to justice.
