Patna: The main accused in the murder of former MLC and BJP leader Manoj Kumar Singh’s nephew was killed in a gunfight with police in Siwan district early Sunday morning. Police shot dead Sonu Yadav around 4am after he opened fire on a team during a vehicle-checking drive. Earlier, a few hours after the murder on April 29, one of the accused was shot at in a police encounter.According to police, teams were checking vehicles following the April 29 road rage incident. During checking in Laddi village under Jamo police station area, police cornered Sonu. He allegedly opened fire on the team. In retaliatory firing, police shot Sonu in the chest. He collapsed on the spot and was rushed to Siwan Sadar Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. His body was handed over to the family after postmortem.Sonu allegedly fired indiscriminately at BJP leader’s nephew Harsh Singh, 28, and his brother-in-law Chandan Singh on April 29 at 6.30pm. Harsh, an LLB student, died. Chandan Singh, a businessman who runs a biscuit agency in Siwan, remains under treatment.The dispute began over parking near Laxmipur-Andar Dhala overbridge under Town police station area. Chandan and Harsh were waiting by the roadside for family members to attend a tilak ceremony when another car lightly hit theirs. A verbal altercation quickly turned violent and the occupants pulled out firearms and opened fire.A video of the incident, shot by women from a nearby balcony, shows the assault amid heavy rain. The women can be heard saying, “Hey…look, they shot Harsh.”Siwan SP Puran Kumar Jha said police received a tip-off on Saturday night that Sonu was heading towards Lakdi village via Barharia.“Teams led by Sadar SDPO Ajay Kumar Singh, town SHO Avinash Kumar and Muffasil SHO Upendra Singh laid a cordon. Cornered between Lakdi village and Gausihata, Sonu opened fire. Police retaliated, hitting him,” Jha said.Police said the pistol used in the April 29 firing was recovered from the spot along with his motorcycle.Sonu had several cases of murder and loot registered against him and carried a bounty of Rs 25,000. He had been absconding for a long time.Within 10 hours of the road rage incident, police shot one accused, Chhotu Kumar Yadav, in both knees and arrested him. Another accused, Sunil Yadav, was also arrested. The vehicle used in the crime has been seized.The SP said raids were being conducted to arrest the remaining accused.
