Bihar Family Feud Turns Deadly on Diwali Night, 55‑Year‑Old Killed
A fatal family dispute marred the Diwali celebrations in Darbhanga district, Bihar, when Kumud Thakur burst into the home of his 55‑year‑old cousin Shashikant Thakur and shot him dead. The incident occurred in the rural settlement of Padri, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Biroul police station.
Eyewitnesses recount that Kumud first knocked on the doors of five to six relatives in the vicinity, but fear kept those households from opening. The perpetrator then proceeded to Shashikant’s house, where the front door was unlocked and the victim was seated in the courtyard. Without warning, Kumud opened fire, delivering a fatal chest wound.
Fleeing on a motorcycle, Kumud’s escape was short‑lived. Approximately two kilometres away, near the village of Maloul in the Bahera police area, his bike crashed into another rider. Villagers seized him, administered a harsh beating, and restrained him until police arrived.
Police recovered a firearm, a traditional “khoka” pistol, and forty live cartridges from the suspect’s belongings. Additional gear, including a bullet‑proof jacket, a helmet and gloves, were also confiscated, pointing to pre‑meditated intent. Relatives claim the shooter had a list of five or six other family members to target, a claim that investigators are currently probing.
The underlying cause appears to be a five‑year enmity. According to family members, Kumud had been threatening Shashikant for the past twelve months and even displayed a pistol in a field four months earlier. Shashikant had approached the Biroul police station, filing a complaint that warned of a credible threat to his life. Senior police officer Prabhakar Tiwari confirmed the existence of this prior filing and has launched a review of the police response, stating that any negligence will be addressed.
The village now grapples with grief and anxiety, as authorities continue to investigate the origins of the weapons, the depth of the family rivalry, and the adequacy of earlier police action.