Bihar: Former Customs Official Gunned Down in Bhojpur

Arrah: A former customs official was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants in Bihar's Bhojpur district on Thursday, prompting locals to hold a demonstration demanding the arrest of those involved in the killing, police said.

The incident took place around 7 am near the eastern gate of Jain College in Arrah town when the masked gunmen fired at him, a senior officer said.

The deceased, identified as Ram Kumar Singh (68), was a former assistant commissioner of customs and was serving as Kshatriya Mahasabha state president from Shahabad.

"The assailants came on a motorcycle, fired at least 7-8 rounds at Singh and fled the spot. He was taken to Arrah Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead," Bhojpur SP Awadhesh Dixit said.

The incident occurred after Singh had left his house with his son for a morning walk to Ramna Maidan, the officer said.

Singh's family members told the police that he had received threats over a land dispute and had earlier faced an attempt on his life, the SP said.

The police have collected evidence from the crime scene for forensic tests and are examining CCTV footage to identify the assailants, he added.

Locals staged a protest outside the hospital, demanding strict action against the culprits.

An FIR has been registered at Nawada police station, and a search is underway to arrest those involved in the killing, another officer said.

Singh's body has been sent for post-mortem examination, he added.