DUMKA: An active cadre of the Congress's Dumka women wing was shot dead in broad daylight by her husband's relatives at the Tin Bazar road here on Saturday.
The deceased, identified as 35-year-old Pushpa Himatsingka, was shot in the head and died inside her steel box shop. She was rushed to Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital but was declared brought dead by the doctors.
Raju Himatsingka, the husband of the deceased, said his nephew, Rocky Himatsingka, fired at his wife because of business rivalry.
Raju and his family members accused police of negligence, saying their complaints of life threats to Pushpa was not registered.
Pushpa's son, Keshav (12), said, "After shooting my mother, the culprits also tried to kill me and my father as we are all inside the shop."
SP Ambar Lakera said a dog squad has been pressed into service to find the accused. “Rocky and his father Shiv Kumar Himatsingka, the brother-in-law of the deceased, have been named in the complaint filed by the family. The killing was a result of family rivalry and we will nab the accused soon."
The local unit of the ruling Congress criticized the police for failing to maintain law and order. Opposition BJP said the Mahagathbandhan government has failed to check criminal activities in the state's sub-capital.
Former minister and candidate of the recently concluded Dumka bypoll, Lois Marandi, said, "The incident has exposed the policing system in the sub-capital which the ruling JMM and chief minister Hemant Soren claim as their 'karmabhoomi'. We have resolved not to cremate the deceased till the culprits are arrested."