Trader among 2 shot in Bihar in last 24 hours

ARA/AURANGABAD: Two people, including a trader, were shot dead in separate incidents in Bhojpur and Aurangabad districts in the last 24 hours.
While Imran Khan (38), a bag and belt trader, was shot dead by associates of criminal Khurshid Miyan at Dharman Chowk in Ara on Thursday, one Pappu Tiwari was gunned down by criminals at Kharanti village under the Obra police station area in Aurangabad district on Wednesday night.

Imran’s elder brother Akil Ahmad and BSNL employee Md Farookh received gunshot injuries in the attack. Police said while Imran died on the spot, the injured people were rushed to Ara sadar hospital.

According to sources, Imran and his family members owned at least eight bag and belt shops at Ara town. Khurshid had allegedly locked three shops of the family. He was pressuring Imran to hand over his shop to him, the sources said, adding when Imran refused to oblige, he was attacked by the criminals on Thursday.

Bhojpur SP Aditya Kumar said six to seven motorcycle-borne criminals started indiscriminate, killing Imran on the spot and injuring two others. “It seems the attack was the handiwork of Khurshid’s associates. Raids are on to arrest Khursid and the assailants,” the SP said.

In Aurangabad, Pappu Tiwari was shot dead when he was fast asleep at his house. His body was recovered on Thursday morning. Locals blocked Patna-Auragabad road near Kharanti village for several hours on Thursday to protest the murder.

Aurangabad SDPO Rajkumar Tiwari said FIR had been registered in connection with the case and raids were on to arrest the killers.