In a shocking incident, a former Maoist commander was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Bihar's Jamui district on Saturday evening. The victim, identified as Lakhan Yadav, was attending a post-Christmas celebration in a village when the attack occurred.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The shooting took place near Baratan village in Jamui. According to his brother-in-law, Tuntun Yadav, Lakhan had traveled to the nearby village on a motorcycle with two other individuals. "After some time, we received information on the phone that he was shot dead," Tuntun stated. The news triggered tension in the area, with a large crowd of villagers gathering at the crime scene.
Police officials, led by Charkapatthar SHO Ranjit Kumar, swiftly arrived and cordoned off the area. A forensic team was called in to assist with the investigation. Five empty cartridges were recovered from the site, indicating the attackers fired indiscriminately, leaving Yadav with no chance to defend himself.
A Troubled Past and a Peaceful Present
Police records reveal that Lakhan Yadav, a resident of Chilkakhar village in Jamui, had a history of involvement with Maoist activities. He was implicated in significant cases, including:
- The Jhajha GRP loot case.
- The burning of a road construction company's JCB machine in Bongi.
He was arrested in 2020 and, based on information he provided, police recovered a cache of weapons from near his house. He was later released on bail.
However, local villagers painted a different picture of his recent life. They asserted that after dissociating from Maoist activities, Yadav had been living peacefully and earning an honest livelihood by driving a tractor to support his family. He was not involved in any recent criminal activity, they claimed.
Police Probe Multiple Angles
Authorities are investigating the murder from all possible angles. Jhajha SDPO Rajesh Kumar confirmed that the motive behind the killing is not yet clear. "Unknown criminals have shot dead a former Maoist commander. The reasons for the murder have not been clearly ascertained yet, but an investigation is being conducted from every angle," he said.
Investigators are exploring several theories, including:
- Potential links to his Maoist past and old enmities.
- Personal enmity stemming from other aspects of his life.
- His known criminal cases; Yadav had two cases registered against him at Charkapatthar police station, and police are gathering more information from across the district.
Police sources also disclosed personal details, noting Yadav was married twice and is survived by two sons and a daughter. As the probe continues, the Jamui district police are piecing together the clues to identify the assailants and their motive for the brutal daylight killing.
