In a shocking case of honour killing in Bihar, a couple who eloped in 2021 and returned to their village along with their two-year-old daughter were shot dead by the girl’s family on 9th January. The deceased victims have been identified as Chandan, Chandni and Roshni. The accused have been identified as Pappu Singh and his son Dheeraj Kumar Singh.
The incident unfolded at about 4:25 p.m. in Nawtolia village, under the jurisdiction of Gopalpur police station in Bihar’s Nawgachhia police district. Reportedly, Chandan Kumar and Chandni Kumari eloped three years ago and got married against the wishes of their families. However, Chandni’s father was opposed to duo’s the marriage since they belonged to the same village and it was considered “inappropriate”. The villagers say that both Chandan and Chandni belonged to the same caste.
On the day of the incident, Chandni’s father, Pappu Singh, saw the couple and their daughter as they were returning to their home in Navtolia village. Pappu Singh confronted them, and an altercation followed. The argument turned heated, and Pappu Singh struck them with an iron rod. The strikes with the iron rod fractured Chandan’s hands. All three fell unconscious after the attack. According to authorities, Pappu’s son Dheeraj then shot all three at point-blank range. Senior police officers and forensic experts arrived on the spot immediately after the incident. Following that, the bodies were taken to a district hospital for post-mortem examination.
Sushant Kumar Saroj, superintendent of police (SP) of Nawgachhia, stated that Chandni Kumari’s father and brother were the primary suspects. “When they were on the outskirts of Nawtolia village to their new house, Chandni Kumar’s father, Pappu Singh, and her brother, Dhiraj Kumar, intercepted them, assaulted them with an iron rod, and then shot them one by one.”
According to police, Chandan Kumar Singh’s family seemed to have made up their mind to accept Chandan and Chandni’s union. However, Chandni’s family made it plain that they would not accept her.
According to the SP, the couple had spoken to local police personnel about the threat to their lives posed by Chandni’s family members and had been warned that now was not the time to return. Nonetheless, they decided to visit the village without informing the local police. Reports say that the couple had gone to see Chandan’s bedridden father.
Based on the application of Chandan’s elder brother and complainant Kedarnath Singh, the accused duo were booked under sections 341/307/ 302 / 506 / 34 IPC and 27 were registered against Arms Act 1. Singh sought justice for his brother and said, “My brother fell in love with Chandni and married her. They were both happy together. My brother, his wife and their daughter had come to see our ailing father moments before being shot dead. My sister-in-law’s father and brother killed them and fled the scene.”
On Thursday (11th January), Nawgachhia Police arrested the accused duo Pappu and Dheeraj Singh from Poornia district’s Rupauli. The father-son duo had been absconding after allegedly killing the couple and their daughter. The arrest comes after a special investigation team was formed which conducted searches in Nawgachhia and various areas of Bhagalpur district.
नवगछिया पुलिस को बड़ी कार्रवाई ।
— Nawgachhia Police (@nawgachiapolice) January 11, 2024
गोपालपुर थानांतर्गत दिनांक-09.01.2024 को हुए "ट्रिपल मर्डर" कांड का 36 घंटे के अंदर सफल उदभेदन करते हुए कांड में शामिल दोनों अभियुक्त को पूर्णिया जिला के रूपौली से गिरफ्तार किया गया।
Bihar Police
Home Department, Govt. of Bihar #HainTaiyarHum pic.twitter.com/RswXxBU13D
The police received information that the accused perpetrators were hiding at a relative’s home in the Poornia district. Subsequently, police arrived at the location and arrested Pappu Singh and Dheeraj Kumar Singh.
नवगछिया पुलिस की बड़ी कार्रवाई !
— Bihar Police (@bihar_police) January 11, 2024
जिले के गोपालपुर थानांतर्गत घटित "ट्रिपल मर्डर" कांड का उद्भेदन करते हुए घटना में संलिप्त 02 अभियुक्तों को पूर्णिया जिला के रूपौली से गिरफ्तार किया गया। अग्रतर कार्रवाई की जा रही है।
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.#BiharPolice #HainTaiyaarHum #Bihar pic.twitter.com/eVPluHeGaN
“Big action by Navgachia police! While exposing the “triple murder” case that took place under Gopalpur police station of the district, 02 accused involved in the incident were arrested from Rupauli in Purnia district. Further action is being taken,” Bihar Police wrote on X.
