The assault happened around evening near a notorious litchi grove by the local mosque. Shivam paused for a quick stop amid his group ride when assailants on a speeding bike unleashed fire. The bullet lodged deep in his stomach, sending him crumpling in agony. Friends, in a panic, ferried him to Bairiya’s private clinic for life-saving intervention – bullet removed, but stability elusive.

Family anguish poured out: father Umesh Kumar, posted far in Araria, learned of the horror remotely. Mother pleaded innocence, denying any feuds. Locals erupted in protest over police inaction. ‘This drug den thrives unchecked,’ they alleged of the orchard vicinity, teeming with narcotics users. Despite proximity to police outpost, arrival lagged, fueling accusations of negligence.

Senior cops – ASP Suresh Kumar included – inspected the scene, quizzed the wounded and kin. Shivam’s prior brush with law surfaced: a kidnapping case FIR. No rushed charges yet; statement awaits his stabilization. Intensified searches scour the region for clues and culprits.

This episode amplifies Muzaffarpur’s crime epidemic, where emboldened thugs exploit lax surveillance. Communities demand round-the-clock patrolling and crackdowns on vice hubs to restore fear of the law. Shivam’s fight for life symbolizes a district crying for security.