A seemingly innocuous social media video has led to a tragic murder in Purnia, exposing the perils of escalating street rivalries. Suraj Yadav was shot dead in a fierce gunfight during daytime hours, all stemming from a dispute over footage shot during Saraswati Puja.
A Nevalal Chowk resident, popular for online content, recorded girls at a school event. One girl’s boyfriend viewed it, abducted the creator, and assaulted him violently. This ignited a three-day feud that culminated in a crowded panchayat beside Basant Bihar Fun City Park under Maranga jurisdiction.
Around 15-20 individuals from both parties convened for talks, but fury overtook dialogue. Gunfire erupted abruptly, with 10-15 rounds tearing through the air. Yadav, there as a neutral party for panchayati, fell victim to the ambush, slain despite his bodyguard’s presence.
Authorities are on high alert, combing through clues and raiding hideouts of the identified criminal elements involved. The public nature of the killing has stunned locals and amplified calls for stronger policing.
Political voices have joined the chorus of outrage. Former parliamentarian Santosh Kushwaha criticized the ruling dispensation, warning of a lawless Bihar where ‘daylight assassinations signal governmental collapse.’ Survivor testimonies from Yadav’s security detail provide chilling insights into the rapid descent into violence.