PATNA, July 13 — A 58-year-old lawyer, Jitendra Mahato, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Patna’s Sultanganj locality on Sunday, marking the third targeted killing in the city within a week and intensifying criticism against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration over deteriorating law and order.
Mahato, who had not been actively practising law for the past two years, was attacked while returning from a tea stall — a routine part of his daily schedule, according to his family. He was rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) with gunshot wounds but succumbed to his injuries during treatment.
“Criminals shot a person named Jitendra Mahato. He was taken to the PMCH, where he died. The family said that he used to come here every day to have tea, and today, while returning, he was shot,” said SP Patna East Parichay Kumar, who reached the crime scene shortly after the incident.
Three empty bullet shells were recovered at the site. A forensic science team, along with the Sub-Divisional Officer and local police, has been deployed. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the area in an effort to identify the attackers and ascertain the motive behind the murder.
This latest killing comes days after the murders of prominent BJP leader and businessman Gopal Khemka and a grocery shop owner in Ramkrishna Nagar, both within the Patna region. The surge in killings has prompted a barrage of criticism from opposition leaders, who accuse the Nitish Kumar-led government of losing control over law enforcement.
While police say they are investigating Mahato’s murder from “all angles,” the frequency and brazenness of recent crimes have reignited public concern over safety in Bihar’s capital. As investigations continue, political and public pressure is mounting on the administration to curb the rising tide of gun violence.
