Former Muzaffarpur mayor Sameer Kumar and his driver were shot dead by criminals near Chandwara Chowk under the jurisdiction of Town police station in Muzaffarpur, around 80km north of Patna, on Sunday evening.
The incident occurred around 7.30pm when Sameer, along with his driver Rohit Kumar, was returning to his Mithanpura PNT Colony residence from a hotel in his car. The assailants riding a motorcycle overtook his car and sprayed bullets causing grievous injuries to Sameer and his driver.
The injured were rushed to Muzaffarpur sadar hospital where both were declared brought dead. The indiscriminate firing in one of the busiest localities of the district headquarters town created panic among shopkeepers who downed their shutters immediately. The locals told the police that the assailants fled towards Sikandarpur after committing the crime.
Inspector-general (Tirhut zone) Sunil Kumar said the reason behind the murder of Sameer and his driver was yet to be ascertained. Sameer, 48, was considered close to a newly elected Rajya Sabha member and was lobbying for his ticket from Muzaffarpur Lok Sabha seat in the coming 2019 election from a national party.
Earlier, he had unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls from Muzaffarpur.
The CBI had questioned Sameer for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping of 13-year-old Navruna Chakravorty from her house on Jawaharlal Road in Muzaffarpur in 2012. Sameer’s interrogation led to the arrest of some influential people of the town. In addition, Sameer was also involved in real estate business.
Sources said Sameer had made huge wealth through real estate business when a senior IPS officer was posted in Muzaffarpur. He frequently visited the IPS officer’s official residence. His close relations with a ruling party lawmaker are an open secret. He had also played an important role in a land deal on Muzaffarpur-Darbhanga road.
Sources said Sameer was active on social media and had lent his support to the agitation launched by the members of Upper Caste on reservation. Muzaffarpur superintendent of police Upendra Nath Verma said the borders of the district have been sealed and a vehicle-checking drive has been initiated to arrest the assailants.
The use of a sophisticated weapon in the murder has hinted at the involvement of professional killers in the incident. “We are probing the case from different angles,” the City SP told The Telegraph over phone.
