Shobha Devi doesn't know whether to blame the police, or fate. A day after criminals shot dead her husband, jeweller Ravikant Prasad, she lost her father-in-law to a heart attack today.
Sidheshwar Prasad (75) had complained of chest pain after he came know about the murder of his oldest son.
"He was admitted to a private nursing home on the Boring Canal Road at around 4am where he breathed his last this morning (about 10 am)," said Shashikant, Ravikant's younger brother.
Ravikant (42), the owner of New Sonali Jewellers at Rajapur Pul in the heart of the city, was gunned down soon after he opened shop at around 10.30am on Saturday. Initial police investigations hinted at the involvement of a gang led by Durgesh Sharma.
"I fail to understand who to blame - the police or destiny," said Shobha (35), tears rolling down her cheeks. "The family lost two members within 24 hours. It has ruined the family and brought it to the brink of starvation."
Ravikant's daughter, Sonali, a student of Class 11, was inconsolable. "Papa loved me so much that he had named the shop after me. We have lost everything after his death," Sonali said.
Ravikant's son, Saurabh, had confronted police personnel who tried to clear a road blockade near Rajapur Pul on Saturday to protest the murder.
"I am amazed at the police's claim to have solved the case," Saurabh (18) said. "The shooter and the leader of the gang are still at large." He alleged that Ravikant was under pressure for some time.
"The criminals were demanding money and gold jewellery from him. When he told them he would not oblige, they shot him in his shop," he said.
The police today nabbed Ganesh Kumar, a close associate of gang leader Durgesh, from Mainpura locality. Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj said Ravikant's murder was planned at Ganesh's house, and Ganesh had accompanied the assailants to Ravikant's shop.
Three members of the gang - identified as Raju Mali, Suman and Akhilesh and stated to be residents of Mandiri - were also arrested. They are allegedly involved in cases of extortion, loot and murder lodged with SK Puri, Buddha Colony, Patliputra and Rajiv Nagar police stations.
SSP Maharaaj said that three others members of the gang - Karmu, Vicky and leader Durgesh - were still at large.
"We hope to arrest the remaining culprits in the jeweller murder case in next couple of days," he said, adding that another gang member, Munchun, surrendered before the court a couple of hours after the police raided his house.
During interrogation, Ganesh is believed to have revealed that the plan was not to murder Ravikant. He claimed that the members of the gang were frequent visitors to Ravikant's shop.
"We used to sell gold ornaments to him," Ganesh told the cops, according to an officer. "He even offered tea to the members of the gang. Recently Vicky had given him a piece of gold and asked for the money, which he refused."
Maharaaj denied that extortion was demanded from Ravikant.
"He never complained to the police about the demand of extortion," the SSP said. "Had he made any complaint, the police would have initiated against the offender."
