A shocking incident unfolded in Purnia district, where a young medical compounder was discovered dead from a gunshot wound at the residence of the rural doctor he worked for. The event has triggered a police manhunt as the doctor and his family have vanished from the scene.
Discovery of the Body and Missing Accused
The victim, identified as 20-year-old Rahul Kumar from Fulwaria village, was found in the early hours of Saturday, January 13, at the house in Patraha Beldari village under the Barhara Kothi police station. Rahul had been employed as a compounder at the clinic of Dr. Shravan Mahto for the past year. According to the victim's mother, Rekha Devi, Dr. Mahto is responsible for her son's death and attempted to dispose of the body before fleeing with his family.
The sequence of events came to light when Dr. Mahto allegedly called Rahul's father, Jogendra Mandal, who was in Kanpur, to inform him that Rahul had suffered a gunshot injury. When the family rushed to the doctor's house, they found Rahul lying in a pool of blood, with stains also on the bedsheets. They immediately alerted the police.
Police Investigation and Evidence
Law enforcement officials from the Barhara Kothi police station arrived at the scene. Station House Officer (SHO) Sanjay Singh confirmed they received information about the death around 1:30 am. The police recovered a pistol and two empty cartridges from near the body. The body was sent to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for a postmortem examination.
"The family's statement has been recorded, and they have accused two people. Further investigation is underway," stated SHO Singh. He added that the origin and ownership of the pistol used in the crime were not immediately clear.
Love Affair Emerges as Possible Motive
While the investigation is in its preliminary stages, police officials have indicated a potential angle involving a romantic relationship. SHO Sanjay Singh revealed that prima facie, the murder appears to be linked to a love affair.
"The youth was in a relationship with a girl from the same village. Her family objected to this. A dispute had broken out over this on January 1, following which a bond was also signed," the SHO explained. This development suggests that the conflict over the relationship might have escalated, leading to the tragic incident.
The police are currently searching for Dr. Shravan Mahto and his family, who remain absconding. The case continues to develop as authorities piece together the final moments and the exact circumstances that led to Rahul Kumar's untimely death.
