4 hurt as man opens fire over family row in Bihar

PATNA/BAGAHA: A 22-year-old man carrying two country-made pistols opened indiscriminate firing, injuring four people, including his cousins. The incident occurred at Ahiroli under the Yogapatti police station area in West Champaran district around 8.30am on Thursday.
The shooter, Ranjit Patel, was caught by the locals and handed over to police. According to police, the injured opened fire over a family dispute.
Ranjit allegedly reached near ward member Raja Babu Patel's house on a bike and fired 7-8 rounds of bullets. The ward member was sitting outside his house with his brother Vijay Patel. Both of them received bullet injuries. Rustam Ansari, an aide of Raja, also sustained bullet injuries. One Sughan Manjhi, a local, was also injured. All the injured people were admitted to Government Medical College and Hospital at Bettiah.
West Champaran SP Upendra Nath Verma said Ranjit is the cousin of Raja and Vijay. "Ranjit's mother had eloped with Vijay around 15 years back, when the accused was only 7-year-old. His father later married another woman with whom he had two more kids," he said.
Police seized two country-made pistols, a cartridge, three bullets and a motorcycle from the spot.
Bettiah DSP Mukul Parimal said Ranjit is a resident of Lapetahi Kurmi tola under the Manuyapul police station area.
"He was trying to escape after committing the crime, but the locals caught him," he added.