Bihar excise staffer shot by smugglers during chase

ARA: A retired assistant customs commissioner, Ram Kumar Singh (70), was shot dead allegedly by four armed miscreants outside his house in Kanakpuri locality near Jain College under Nawada police station area of Bhojpur district on Thursday morning. A person was detained in connection with the murder, while Ara Mufassil SHO Ram Kalyan Yadav was suspended for alleged inaction on complaints earlier filed by the deceased against land-grabbers.Recounting the incident, Singh’s elder son, Rajesh Kumar Singh, said he and his father routinely went for morning walks at Ara’s Ramna Maidan by car. “We had just stepped out of our house. While my father was locking the main shutter, about four miscreants opened fire on him. I was sitting in the car when locals alerted me. My father sustained gunshot injuries and collapsed. I immediately informed the police.