THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, March 23: A 58-year-old man was found shot dead near a Mahua tree in Kerki hamlet under Panki police station limits in Palamu district. The incident took place early Sunday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Rajdeo Paswan. His body was spotted near the tree around 9:45 am by a civil society activist, who alerted the police.
Multiple Gunshot Injuries, Cartridges Recovered
Officer-in-charge of Panki police station, Rajesh Ranjan, said the victim had multiple firearm injuries on the neck and chest. Police recovered at least three empty cartridges from the spot.
“The nature of the injuries suggests deep-seated vendetta. The assailants appeared determined to eliminate him,” Ranjan said.
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Sources indicated that the attackers may have been lying in ambush, as Paswan regularly went to collect fallen Mahua fruits in the morning.
Motive Unclear, Several Angles Under Probe
Police said the motive behind the murder is yet to be established. “We are trying to ascertain the motive and are examining a couple of angles,” the officer said.
Sources suggested that internal family disputes could be one of the possible reasons. Another angle under consideration is related to the Mahua collection, which is a source of income in the region.
Police have deployed a sniffer dog as part of the investigation. The post-mortem was conducted at MMCH, Daltonganj.
