Patna, May 3 (IANS) Sonu Yadav, one of the accused in the road rage incident in Bihar’s Siwan, was injured in an encounter with police. Later, during the treatment, he was declared dead.

On April 29, a minor road dispute near the Laxmipur-Aandar Dhala overbridge in Siwan turned deadly. Harsh Kumar Singh (28), nephew of BJP leader Manoj Singh, was shot dead, while his brother-in-law Chandan Singh sustained critical injuries.

The victims were on their way to attend a Tilak ceremony when their parked vehicle was allegedly grazed by a speeding car. What began as a verbal altercation escalated within moments, leading to indiscriminate firing by the accused.

Acting swiftly, the police had identified the prime accused — Sonu Yadav and Chhotu Yadav — within hours of the incident.

Meanwhile, Sonu Yadav was traced by the police in the Barharia area of Siwan. During the exchange of fire with the police, Yadav was injured. He was then taken for treatment to Sadar Hospital, where the doctors declared him dead.

Yadav was carrying a bounty of Rs 25,000.

Speaking to IANS, Yadav’s father said, “The watchman said, ‘Go, your son is dead’… They made us sign papers and then told us to leave. What the police did was wrong. He was my only son. I don’t know what crime he committed, as I lived in Hyderabad. I don’t know anything.”

A day after a sensational road rage incident in Bihar’s Siwan claimed the life of a youth and left another critically injured, police have arrested the main accused, Chhotu Yadav, following an early morning encounter on Thursday.

Earlier, on April 30, another accused, Chhotu Yadav, was also arrested in an encounter.

The accused, identified as Chhotu Kumar Yadav, son of Veer Yadav and a resident of Hathaura village under Hussainganj police station limits, was tracked down during a late-night operation.

According to Avinash Kumar, the SHO of Town police station, when officers attempted to apprehend him around 3.00 a.m., the accused tried to flee and opened fire on the police team. In retaliatory action, police fired back, injuring him in both legs. He collapsed on the spot and was taken into custody.

Notably, no police personnel were injured during the encounter.

Police have stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other individuals involved in the crime.

Continuous raids are being conducted to ensure all culprits are brought to justice.

Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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