Daijiworld Media Network - Patna

Patna, Feb 13: A journalist working with a leading Hindi daily was seriously injured after unidentified criminals opened fire at him in Bihar’s Siwan district late Thursday night. He has been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and is said to be in critical condition.

Police said two motorcycle-borne assailants fired indiscriminately at Ramesh Singh near Bhawani Mor under Pachrukhi police station limits. A bullet pierced his stomach, causing him to collapse on the spot.

Locals immediately rushed him to Sadar Hospital in Siwan, from where doctors referred him to Patna for advanced treatment.

Siwan Superintendent of Police Puran Kumar Jha, along with the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Sadar-1) and a forensic science team, inspected the crime scene soon after the incident.

According to preliminary reports, Singh, a resident of Jasauli, had gone to attend a wedding ceremony at a marriage hall in Pakdi Bangali. While returning home late at night, the attackers allegedly ambushed him and fled under the cover of darkness.

SP Jha said the motive behind the attack is yet to be established and a special team has been constituted to identify and apprehend the assailants.

The incident has revived memories of the murder of senior journalist Rajdeo Ranjan, who was shot dead in Siwan on May 13, 2016. The case was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following widespread public outrage.