Father Calls Daughter Innocent in Nalanda Constable Death Case
A retired policeman has come forward to defend his daughter, Daroga Pushpa Kumari, after her arrest in connection with the death of a constable in Nalanda. Arun Prajapati says his daughter is innocent and that she has been framed. He has also shared details of the personal problems the family says she faced after marriage.
Pushpa Kumari is originally from Khakhra village under the Mufassil police station area of Aurangabad district. Her arrest has drawn attention because of the shooting that killed excise constable Ajit Kumar during a chase, as well as the marital dispute her father has described publicly.
According to Prajapati, he got his daughter married in 2024 to the son of a daroga who had worked with him in the police. He said the groom had opposed the marriage before it took place, yet the wedding went ahead.
He claims that his son-in-law started drinking alcohol soon after the wedding and tried to force Pushpa to give up her job. He said these issues created ongoing tension that eventually led the couple toward divorce.
Prajapati, who retired from police service last year, said he served honestly throughout his career and was posted in Nalanda district at one point. He said his daughter has always been peaceful and focused on her education, and that she has never been known for conflict within the family.
He expressed shock that she is now accused of involvement in a murder case. According to him, he wants to understand the allegations, but says he has not been given adequate information. He also said he has not been allowed to meet his daughter, despite his past service in the police.
His father-in-law, Chandrika Prajapati, has also described Pushpa as gentle since childhood. He said she first joined Bihar Police as a constable and later became a daroga in the excise department, a job the family considered a significant achievement.
The fatal incident happened on the night of October 14, 2026, while a suspected pickup carrying liquor was being pursued. Ajit Kumar was hit by a bullet and was taken to Pawapuri before being moved to Patna, where he died.
Initially, smugglers were blamed for the firing. On October 16, Nalanda SP Hridaykant said the bullet had actually been fired from a rifle belonging to a home guard jawan who was with the excise team.
Police said three rounds were fired during the attempt to stop the vehicle, two of which misfired. The rifle used has been seized, and the investigation is now examining the post-incident actions, including the delay in informing local police and senior officers.
Seven people, including Pushpa Kumari, have been arrested. The others are home guard jawans Rishu Kumar, Dinanath and Sunny Kumar, excise constable Anup Kumar, driver Gaurav alias Nishant, and Shankar Kumar.
Prajapati has demanded a fair probe so that the real sequence of events on the night of the incident can be established. He says conclusions should be drawn only after all facts are examined. Reports of an alleged relationship between Pushpa and the deceased constable have also circulated, but the SP did not confirm them in early reports, and such claims remain unverified.