Patna: A 25-year-old man was beaten to death in Darbhanga on Friday after he allegedly shot an assistant sub-inspector (ASI) during a dispute linked to his interfaith marriage. The ASI is the uncle of the man’s wife, who belongs to another community. The incident took place in Ojhaul village under the Bahadurpur police station area during a Muharram procession. Police said the deceased had a criminal history.The deceased was identified as Sunil Sahni of Ojhaul village, while the injured ASI was identified as Mohammad Mobin, 30.According to police, Mobin, who is posted at a police station in Patna, had called Sunil to meet him near a Shiv temple, around 100 metres from Sunil’s house. During the meeting, an argument reportedly broke out over Sunil’s marriage to Mobin’s niece. Police said Sunil allegedly pulled out a pistol and shot Mobin in the stomach. People accompanying the ASI then attacked Sunil with sticks and sharp weapons, beating him to death on the spot. Police said more than 10 injury marks caused by sticks and sharp weapons were found on Sunil’s body.Sunil’s father, Dilip Sahni, said his son had married a Muslim woman from the same village about three years ago after the two fell in love. Following the marriage, the couple shifted to Ahmedabad, where Sunil was employed in the private sector. They returned to the village two days ago, after which his wife went to her parents’ house, located about 500 metres away.Dilip said someone called Sunil on Friday morning and asked him to come to the Shiv temple. Sunil left on his motorcycle. “About an hour later, a villager told me my son was lying in a pool of blood near the temple. When I reached there, he was dead. There were deep cuts from sharp weapons on his head and body. ASI Mobin was also lying injured nearby,” he said.Claiming his son had received threats three to four days earlier from some people in the village, Dilip said he did not approach the police at the time. “There should be an impartial probe and strict action against the culprits,” he said.Darbhanga SSP Jagunath Raddi said Sunil had four criminal cases, including attempt to murder, kidnapping, theft and Arms Act violations, registered against him in Darbhanga and nearby districts. “Police are investigating the matter from all angles. The accused are being identified and further legal action is being taken,” he said. Mobin is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Patna, while Sunil’s body has been sent to Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital for postmortem. The SSP said a case would be registered after the deceased’s family files a complaint.
