Pankaj Rai, a local councillor and member of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was brutally murdered on the evening of August 20 in Bihar’s Hajipur. Pankaj Rai, who had recently been elected as the Ward No. 5 councillor, was at a clothing shop near his residence when three men on a motorcycle approached him. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, hitting Pankaj Rai multiple times.
According to eyewitnesses, Pankaj Rai fled into his house in a desperate attempt to escape the assailants. However, the attackers followed him into his home and continued shooting. Pankaj Rai was struck by three bullets before his family and locals could intervene. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Pankaj Rai was pronounced dead on arrival by the attending doctors.
The incident has sparked outrage among RJD leaders and supporters. Tejashwi Yadav, the former Deputy Chief Minister and a prominent RJD figure, accused Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) of failing to maintain law and order in the state. Yadav criticized the Chief Minister and his deputies for allegedly allowing such violence to occur under their watch. In a statement, he condemned the NDA and its supporters, describing the situation as a “jungle raj” in Bihar.
In his tweet, Yadav asserted, “NDA goons led by Nitish Kumar shot dead ward councillor Pankaj Rai in Hajipur at night. The Chief Minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers are sleeping peacefully while their goons are creating mayhem.” The tweet also included a visual of his statement in Hindi.
The police have launched an investigation into Pankaj Rai’s murder. Senior officials, including Superintendent of Police (SP) Har Kishore Rai, visited the crime scene and the hospital to gather information and support Pankaj Rai’s grieving family. According to the authorities, an investigation is underway, and CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed to identify the suspects involved in the killing.
RJD MLA Mukesh Roshan also condemned the incident, criticizing the state’s law and order situation. He remarked, “Pankaj Rai was an active worker of the RJD. His murder is a testament to the fact that lawmakers are not safe inside their own homes. It’s ‘jungle-raj’ in Bihar.”
The murder of Pankaj Rai has not only raised serious concerns about security in Bihar but has also intensified political tensions as the state prepares for upcoming elections.
