Gopalganj, Jan. 19: The brother of advocate Rajesh Giri, who was shot dead yesterday, lodged an FIR with Gopalpur police today against six persons, including the husband of the Bhagwanpur mukhiya (village head).

The six named in the FIR were Dinesh Parvat, Suresh Parvat and Sunil Parvat, all from a family, Bhagwanpur mukhiya Manju Devi’s husband Dr Mukhi Lal, Surendra Singh and an unknown person. Gopalganj superintendent of police K.S. Anupam said: “Rajesh was attacked on a lonely stretch near the Uttar Pradesh border. It appears to be a case of contract killing. The assailants might have escaped to the neighbouring state. Raids are on to nab the accused.”

Anupam said the rivalry between the Parvat and the Giri families was nothing new. Both the families had in the past lodged cases against each other in various district courts. “Police are probing the case from all angles, particularly that of land dispute and political rivalry,” she added.

Bhanu Giri, Rajesh’s maternal uncle and a public prosecutor in Gopalganj court, said both the families were at loggerheads over political supremacy in the area.

“Rajesh’s mother, Ram Kumari Devi, was once elected the mukhiya. In another term, Dinesh Parvat was elected the mukhiya,” Bhanu said. Hr added that the six accused had waited near Ahirauli bridge for Rajesh to come on his bike.

Saran district bar association general secretary Ravi Ranjan Singh demanded that superintendents of police be made responsible for advocates’ safety and a compensation of Rs 20 lakh to the family of the deceased apart from a job for a family member.

He also demanded that Bihar Bar Council and Bar Council of India provide Rs 5,000 every month to the Giris till the date of Rajesh’s retirement.