A shocking triple murder took place in the Bhupatpur area under Gopalpur police station in Patna on Monday. Two bikers shot dead property dealer Ashraf Rai outside his home, firing six bullets at him. Investigators recovered over 10 cartridge shells from the scene, suggesting professional killers were hired for the crime. After the killing, the two shooters tried to escape but were caught by an angry crowd about 200 meters away and beaten to death. Police investigations have revealed that the murder was carefully planned, with professional shooters hired for a large sum of money. The attackers had even prepared spare T-shirts to change clothes and evade CCTV cameras and police. The entire crime appears to be linked to a major land deal worth approximately 80 crore rupees. According to initial findings, Ashraf Rai was involved in a 4.5 bigha land transaction, with each katha valued at around 1 crore rupees. Multiple complaints had been filed against Rai, alleging he took money for land deals but failed to complete the registry process. Police are now investigating the land dispute angle and trying to identify who ordered the contract killing. SDPO Sadar-2 Ranjan Kumar confirmed that several people had previously lodged complaints about property disputes with Ashraf Rai. The investigation team is examining all angles and questioning multiple individuals connected to the land transactions. Forensic teams collected evidence from the crime scene. The police believe that identifying the masterminds behind the contract killing will be crucial to understanding the full scope of this triple murder case.
The Land Deal Behind the Triple Murder
The central motive appears to be a disputed land transaction worth approximately 80 crore rupees. The property in question measures about 4.5 bigha, with each katha valued at roughly 1 crore rupees. According to SDPO Sadar-2 Ranjan Kumar, multiple complaints had been filed against property dealer Ashraf Rai at the police station. The allegations stated that Rai would accept payment for land deals but would not complete the registry formalities. This pattern of taking money without completing legal documentation created serious disputes with buyers. Police investigators are now focusing on identifying all parties involved in the land transactions. They are questioning several people connected to these property deals. The investigation team believes that the massive financial value of the disputed land provided a strong motive for hiring professional killers. Officers are examining records of all complaints filed against Rai and interviewing those who had business dealings with him. The police suspect that someone involved in these land disputes paid a substantial amount to contract killers to eliminate Ashraf Rai. Establishing this connection between the land dispute and the murder contract is now the primary focus of the investigation.
How the Murder Was Carried Out
On Monday, two men on a motorcycle arrived at Ashraf Rai's residence in the Bhupatpur area. Ashraf Rai was sitting outside his home when the attackers opened fire. The assailants fired six bullets at the property dealer in quick succession. The manner in which the shooting was conducted and the over 10 cartridge shells recovered from the scene indicate that the attackers were not novice criminals. Police believe the shooters were experienced professionals hired specifically for this assassination. The crime scene evidence suggests meticulous planning went into the operation. After shooting Rai, the two bikers attempted to flee the area. However, local residents who witnessed the murder began chasing them immediately. The crowd managed to catch both shooters approximately 200 meters from the murder scene. In their anger, the mob attacked both assailants with weapons including spears and axes, which were later found at the scene. Both shooters died from the mob beating before police could reach them. This mob lynching resulted in three total deaths from the incident. The quick response of local residents prevented the professional killers from escaping, though it also eliminated the possibility of interrogating them about who hired them.
The Escape Plan That Failed
Police investigation uncovered that the two shooters had prepared a sophisticated escape strategy. When officers searched the bodies of the dead attackers, they discovered new T-shirts in their possession. This finding revealed the killers' plan to change clothes after committing the murder. According to police theory, the assassins intended to ride some distance after the shooting, find a secluded spot, and quickly change into the fresh T-shirts. By changing their appearance, they hoped to avoid identification through CCTV cameras installed throughout the city. The clothing change would also make it difficult for witnesses to recognize them based on initial descriptions given to police. With new clothes, the shooters could have blended into crowds and escaped Patna without detection. However, this carefully planned escape route never materialized. The local residents' swift action in pursuing and catching the bikers disrupted the entire escape plan. Within minutes of the shooting, both attackers were apprehended before they could reach any location to change clothes. The presence of the spare T-shirts demonstrates the level of planning that went into this contract killing. Professional criminals typically prepare such backup plans to evade capture. Had the mob not intervened so quickly, the two shooters might have successfully fled the city, making police investigation significantly more difficult.
Evidence Collection and Forensic Investigation
Patana police immediately called in the Forensic Science Laboratory team to the crime scene. The FSL experts conducted a thorough examination and collected crucial evidence. More than 10 cartridge shells were recovered from outside Ashraf Rai's house, indicating multiple rounds were fired. The empty shells are being analyzed to determine the type of weapons used and potentially trace their origin. Investigators also collected the spare T-shirts found on the bodies of the two attackers. These clothing items may contain forensic evidence such as purchase receipts or fibers that could link them to specific locations. The weapons used by the mob to kill the shooters, including spears and axes, were secured as evidence. Police are examining CCTV footage from cameras in the neighborhood to track the movements of the bikers before and after the shooting. The motorcycle used by the attackers is also being examined for fingerprints, registration details, and any other clues about the criminals' identities. Forensic experts are analyzing the bullet trajectories to reconstruct exactly how the shooting occurred. The bodies of all three deceased persons were sent for post-mortem examination. These detailed forensic investigations are providing police with critical information to piece together the complete sequence of events and potentially identify who ordered the contract killing.
Police Hunt for the Masterminds
While the two shooters are dead, police investigation is now focused on finding who hired them and provided the financial backing for this contract killing. Investigators believe that professional killers of this caliber would have demanded a substantial payment for the assassination. The police are examining the financial records of all individuals who had property disputes with Ashraf Rai. Officers are questioning multiple people connected to the 80 crore rupee land deal that appears to be the primary motive. The investigation team is reviewing all previous complaints filed against the murdered property dealer at various police stations. Each complaint is being examined to identify who had the strongest grievance and potential motive to order Rai's killing. Police are also investigating whether any recently settled or ongoing court cases related to these land disputes might provide leads. Financial transactions of suspects are being scrutinized to trace any large payments that might have been made to hire the killers. The investigators are working on identifying the network that connected those who wanted Rai dead with the professional shooters. Police are exploring all angles systematically and expect to make arrests of the conspiracy's masterminds soon based on the evidence collected.
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