Madhubani: An assistant sub-inspector (ASI) posted at a police picket at the Balirajgarh excavation site allegedly opened fire inside a house in Balirajgarh village under Babubarhi police station area late on Monday night, killing a villager and seriously injuring three others. The ASI escaped after the incident.SSP Yogendra Kumar said a case of murder and other offences was being registered against him.According to police sources, the incident occurred after the ASI, Chandramohan Singh, allegedly entered the house with wrong intentions. Neighbour Phoolo Devi noticed something amiss and raised an alarm, following which villagers gathered and surrounded the house. Finding himself trapped, the ASI allegedly pulled out his service pistol and fired five to six rounds, hitting four villagers.The injured were taken to Babubarhi Community Health Centre (CHC), where doctors declared 50-year-old Ashok Yadav brought dead. The other three injured — Dhanik Lal Yadav, Phulo Devi and Vijendra Yadav — were referred to sadar hospital for better medical care.Ashok ran a paan shop in Bengaluru, and his daughter’s wedding was scheduled on Dec 14. Villager Vijendra Yadav’s wife was away at her parental home, while his daughter and Ashok’s daughter were sleeping in his house when the incident occurred.The SSP said the ASI had been visiting the area regularly, ostensibly to collect rations, and had developed an illicit relationship with a woman there. He had gone to meet her that night as well. Villagers had been keeping an eye on his activities for some time and surrounded the house when he went there late on Monday night. He allegedly opened fire to escape the crowd’s anger, said the SSP.Following the incident, angry villagers blocked Balirajgarh-Khutauna road at Bhupatti Chowk and staged a demonstration with Ashok’s body, demanding stern action against the accused. District magistrate Anand Sharma and the SSP also faced a tough time pacifying the crowd. The road blockade was subsequently lifted, and the situation was under control, police said.The SSP and other senior officers visited the village, met the injured and their families and inspected the crime spot. The SSP told reporters that the accused ASI has been suspended. Two special police teams, constituted under two Sadar SDPOs, have been tasked with arresting the absconding ASI.The police picket at Balirajgarh had been set up after unrest at an excavation site in May 2026, when troublemakers were disrupting work and stealing archaeological remains. An ASI, three home guard personnel and two chowkidars were posted there for security. They stayed at a residential girls’ school after duty.
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