Businessman, ex-councilor shot in Hazaribagh; causes public outrage

Hazaribagh, October 29 (IANS): Manjeet Yadav, a businessman and former councilor of the Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation, was shot dead by assailants in Khirgaon area of ​​Hazaribagh, Jharkhand on Tuesday morning. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Yadav succumbed to his injuries around noon.

The killing has sparked widespread anger among local residents. Hundreds of people gathered at the Hazaribagh District Board Chowk and blocked the Ranchi-Patna Road. They expressed strong resentment against the police and local administration due to poor law and order in the district.

The government has deployed a heavy police force and Vajra vehicles in the area to maintain law and order.

According to reports, Yadav was standing near his residence in Bara Bazar area of ​​Hazaribagh around 8.30 am on Tuesday when three assailants on one motorcycle approached and shot him multiple times with a Mauser and a revolver.

At that moment he collapsed in front of the door. Local residents, alarmed by the sound of the gunshots, rushed outside, only to find that the attackers had already escaped on their bicycles after committing the crime.

Following news of his death, tensions escalated in Hazaribagh with crowds gathering near the hospital and later blocking the district administration chowk, causing traffic delays on the Ranchi-Patna road. They started shouting slogans against the police administration after the news of Manjeet Yadav’s death spread.

Yadav, who earlier chaired a committee organizing a grand Ram Navami festival in Hazaribagh, was also a former ward councilor of the Hazaribagh Municipal Corporation. In recent years he has ventured into the real estate sector.

Police have conducted raids to arrest the suspects. Early research suggests that business rivalry could be a possible motive for the murder.

However, authorities have not yet confirmed any specific leads.