Patna Student Dies After Violent Clash Over Cigarette Money
Life held shockingly little value in Patna on Tuesday evening. A young college student lost his life over a dispute involving just two hundred rupees. The incident highlights how quickly minor disagreements can turn deadly in the city.
Trivial Argument Turns Fatal
Gaurav Kumar, a BA first-year student in his early twenties, faced a brutal attack near his family's shop. He assisted his father, Karu Yadav, in running a small shutter and grille-making business at Lohia Nagar. The tragedy unfolded after a simple errand went wrong.
City Superintendent of Police (East) Parichay Kumar explained the sequence of events. On Tuesday around 4 PM, Gaurav gave Rs 200 to a local youth to purchase cigarettes near MIG Park under the Kankerbagh police station area. The boy neither returned the money nor delivered the cigarettes, sparking an immediate confrontation.
Brutal Evening Assault
The situation escalated dramatically hours later. Around 7:30 PM, a group of ten to twelve youths returned to the vicinity of Gaurav's shop. They launched a vicious attack using knives, rods, and other weapons. The assault focused on the back of his neck, inflicting severe injuries.
Preliminary investigations suggest a blunt weapon caused a deep mark on his throat. Bystanders rushed Gaurav to a private hospital located directly opposite the shop. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Police arrived at the crime scene and initiated a thorough investigation. They deployed a forensic team to examine evidence and sent the body to a government hospital for postmortem examination. Authorities registered a First Information Report against seven named accused and five unidentified youths.
ASP Sadar, Abhinav Kumar, provided updates on the case. "Based on technical evidence, we have detained six minors involved in the attack," he stated. Police identified other accused individuals through CCTV footage and are conducting raids to apprehend them.
Neighborhood Acquaintances, Impulsive Violence
Investigations reveal that Gaurav and his attackers knew each other and lived in the same neighborhood. The ASP described the incident as a sudden, impulsive escalation from the earlier quarrel. "There is no evidence of premeditation or a broader conspiracy," he clarified.
Regarding the detained minors, ASP Abhinav Kumar added, "All detainees will be produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. We are contesting to have them treated as adults given the severity of the crime."
Gaurav Kumar, a native of Lakhisarai, was pursuing his education in Patna. His death has sent shockwaves through the local community, raising questions about public safety and the trivial triggers for extreme violence.
