A violent confrontation occurred in Munger, Bihar, due to a land dispute, involving approximately 50 rounds of gunfire. The incident saw clashes between two groups, resulting in one person being injured. The primary cause of the dispute was related to the illegal acquisition of land.
Following the incident, local residents demonstrated their outrage by blocking the road connecting Munger to Lakhisarai. The police have initiated a thorough investigation into the events.
Reportedly, the conflict began on Saturday over the construction of a wall at a cemetery, leading to stone-pelting and subsequently, gunfire. The disputed land, situated near the Harda petrol pump, is owned by Dashrath Manjhi and is the subject of an attempted encroachment by a person named Bablu Malik. The land has been the subject of an ongoing dispute for the past 25 years, with the matter currently pending in court.
Two days prior to the shooting, Bablu Malik was instructed by the local Satyavati police not to proceed with the wall construction on the contested land, as the case was in court. However, Malik disregarded the instructions and began construction, which led to protests and subsequent gunfire. Multiple shots were fired in an effort to establish dominance, forcing people to flee to avoid the bullets. Ankush was injured in the shooting.
Ankush’s family members reported that he works in another state and had returned from Delhi on Saturday. He was shot while on his way home from a swim in the Ganga River. The bullet struck him in the left leg, and he was immediately taken to the hospital. Local residents protested by blocking the National Highway linking Munger to Lakhisarai. Medical professionals have stated that the bullet entered near the knee of the left leg and exited after passing through the bone. Ankush’s condition is currently reported as critical.
Upon being informed of the incident, the police, including SP Syed Imran Masood, arrived at the scene with a substantial police force. The SP confirmed that a dispute had occurred between two communities regarding the cemetery boundary, resulting in gunfire. The police have arrested 22 people from both sides. The situation is currently under control, and authorities are reviewing video footage to identify additional suspects.