Tuntun Akela, a 35-year-old lawyer, was shot at by unidentified motorcycle-borne criminals near Dahibhatta village coming under the Uchakagaon police station area in Gopalganj district around 9.30 am on Friday. It triggered protests by his colleagues on the district civil court premises.
Police says that the incident took place when the deceased was on way to the civil court at Gopalganj along with his assistant, Ranjeet Kumar Ram, from his native village Bargachhia on his motorbike.
Two bike-borne criminals shot at him from behind, causing some grievous injuries to him.
The injured was then rushed to the Sadar hospital at Gopalganj from where he was referred to a hospital at Gorakhpur in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh where his condition is stated to be critical.
His assistant, who had been driving the bike while the incident took place has escaped unhurt.
When the news about such murderous attack on Akela reached the court, Akela’s lawyer colleagues started raising slogans against the police and later also boycotted work.
A group of lawyers also blocked the road near Manika Chowk and disrupted vehicular traffic for three hours. They were demanding immediate visit of the SP to the spot.
Gopalganj SP Manoj Kumar Tiwari realising the intensity of the incident then rushed the spot and listened to the protesters’ grievances.
The roadblock was lifted on the SP’s assurances.
Gopalganj Sadar sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Naresh Paswan said, “It appeared that the assailants were following the lawyer from his native village and fired at him at an isolated place near Dahibhatta. The assailants escaped after committing the crime.”
According to TOI, police have already detained two suspects, including a criminal who was released from jail on January 20, for interrogation.
Preliminary investigations also suggest that land dispute can be the reason behind the murderous attack on the lawyer. A clerk of a government school in the area has also been picked up for interrogation.
