In a shocking incident that has raised serious concerns over law and order, armed assailants stormed the Sultanganj Nagar Parishad office in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district on Tuesday, killing Executive Officer (EO) Krishna Bhushan Kumar and critically injuring municipal chairman Raj Kumar Guddu.
The attack took place around 4:00 pm when both officials were inside their respective chambers attending to official duties. According to eyewitnesses, three to five armed men arrived on motorcycles, entered the premises, and opened fire indiscriminately, triggering panic among staff and visitors present inside the office.
Ranjit Kumar, an eyewitness, recounted that several individuals, including members of the standing committee, were present when the attackers barged in. “The moment gunshots were heard, chaos erupted. We rushed toward the chambers and found both the chairman and the executive officer severely injured. They were immediately taken to the hospital,” he said.
Senior Superintendent of Police Pramod Yadav stated that the EO showed “immense courage” during the attack. “CCTV footage indicates that he confronted the assailants and tried to stop them. During the struggle, the criminals fired at him multiple times,” he said. Kumar, who was reportedly shot thrice, succumbed to his injuries while being taken to the hospital.
Both victims were rushed to Mayaganj hospital for treatment. While Kumar was declared dead en route, Guddu remains in critical condition.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack may be linked to long-standing personal rivalry within the local municipal administration. Police officials have formed special teams to identify and apprehend the perpetrators. According to SSP Yadav, CCTV footage has captured at least two of the attackers.
The incident has triggered a political storm in the state. Leader of the Opposition Tejashwi Yadav strongly criticised the administration led by Nitish Kumar, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order. In a post on X, he claimed that criminals have grown emboldened to the extent of carrying out attacks inside government offices.
Security has been tightened across Sultanganj following the incident, with additional police forces deployed and barricades set up to prevent any escalation of tension. Authorities have assured swift action as investigations continue into one of the most brazen attacks on a government office in recent times.
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