Saran DM Kundan Kumar interacts with police at the blast site on Friday. Picture by Rakesh K Singh

Criminals hurled bombs on the premises of the civil court in Chhapra on Friday, around 70km northwest of Patna, injuring one Shashi Bhushan Singh.

The incident occurred in the presence of security personnel around 11.40am, when the premise was abuzz with activities. The bombs exploded in front of the courts of additional district judge IV and chief judicial magistrate as soon as Shashi alighted from his sports utility vehicle in relation to a triple murder case.

Shashi was accompanying Manjit Singh, a key witness in the case. According to sources, the bombs had been hurled from the roof of the court building. Manjit, however, escaped unscathed. Shashi suffered splinter injuries on his legs and was immediately rushed to Chhapra sadar hospital for treatment. A police constable, too, suffered minor injuries on his left hand.

On July 20, 2011, armed criminals had entered the house of then Maharajganj RJD MP late Uma Shankar Singh at Sadhnapuri locality of the town and killed Mani Bhushan Singh, Shashi’s brother, Devendra Singh and driver Dinesh Rai. Shashi had lodged an FIR against seven persons of which three are in Chhapra jail at present.

Assistant superintendent of police (ASP) Sushil Kumar reached the spot within minutes of the blast. He claimed that security had been provided but it was not clear how the criminals attacked the witness on the court premises. “A manhunt has been launched to nab the ones behind the bomb blast,” the ASP added.

Sources said the attempt to kill the witness Manjit and complainant Shashi was the fallout of a long-drawn enmity between two rival groups. While one group is led by Shashi, one Nilesh Rai heads the other. Another witness in the case, Mritunjay Singh (Shashi’s cousin) was shot dead in August at his home.

Shashi said the rivalry started in 2004 when one Sanjay Singh was shot dead and he was a witness to this incident. He claimed the rival group suspected him to be a police informer and was trying to settle scores with him.

Manjit, a resident of Baikunthpur village, said of the seven accused in the case, three are in jail. “One of the accused, Nilesh Rai, lodged in Chhapra jail operates from prison and keeps threatening him over the cellphone.”

He added that he had complained to the police that Nilesh was operating from inside the jail, while the authorities concerned failed to take any action.

After the incident, district magistrate Kundan Kumar held a meeting with superintendent of police Vinay Kumar and instructed him to have a talk with the Chhapra Bar Ass ociation and increase security on the court premises. He also instructed the senior officer to introduce identity cards for everyone to enter the court.