A couple were shot dead allegedly by a former councillor and his associates in the small hours of Sunday to avenge the murder of his brother in Begusarai district, barely four days ahead of the civic polls.

A gang of criminals shot dead Prem Poddar, the brother of former councillor Babua Poddar, at Bishunpur Tarbanna under Town police station, police said. In retaliation, Babua and his associates allegedly shot dead Hira Ram (45) and Kamayani (40), suspecting them to be close to Prem’s killers.

The couple’s son, Chamaru (16), suffered bullet wounds and was admitted to Begusarai Sadar Hospital in a critical condition.

The police said 32-year old-Prem was killed by the criminals near Nahatta in the town around 8pm on Saturday. Within five hours, Babua and his associates went on a search for the assailants and saw Hira and his wife returning to their home. The duo had gone to meet an “influential person” in the same area.

The former councillor, along with his accomplices, attacked the couple and killed them on the spot. Their son, Chamaru, was wounded in the attack. Begusarai (Sadar) deputy superintendent of police Vivekanand said the three murders were a consequence of a war of supremacy between two gangs active in the town.

“Prem was facing charges of extortion, assault and other serious offences. He was released from jail barely one-and-a-half-month ago,” the officer said.

Babua and one of his associates, Shisha Mahto, were arrested for allegedly planning the murder of the couple and cause harm to their son.

“Hira and Kamayani had nothing to do with Prem’s murder. However, Babua and his associates killed the duo, considering them close to the prime accused in the case,” Vivekanand said.

He added that Babua was physically challenged and moved around a hand-driven tri-cycle. “He went on a search for the assailants soon after the murder of his brother. They went to the house of the accused, who was not present there. While returning, Babua and his men came across the couple and shot them dead,” Vivekanand told The Telegraph over phone from Begusarai.

The police said Babua’s family was allegedly involved in running an arms racket. Hira, however, did not have any criminal antecedent. The police refused to divulge the name of the person/s accused of killing Prem.