Bihar: Joint secretary’s son and brother arrested for opening fire to terrorise contractor

PATNA: State government’s joint secretary rank officer Uday Pratap Singh’s son Markandeya Pratap Singh (25) and his uncle Arun Singh (35) were arrested from their residence at Police Colony under Gardanibagh police station area in Patna on Monday for opening fire five rounds in air and thrashing a contractor engaged in construction of public drainage system.
Police also seized a licenced rifle, an airgun, 45 cartridges of two different firearms and two empty cartridges from the duo.The officer is presently posted at chief general manager (procurement) at State Food Corporation (SFC) in Patna.
Gardanibagh police station SHO CP Yadav said the incident took place at road number nine in Sector-C of Police colony where the joint secretary’s private house (111-C) is located.
It was around 11am when police received information about firing soon after which a police team rushed at the spot.
“Drainage construction work was going on in the area. A contractor Yuvraj Kumar, engaged in the construction on behalf of a multinational firm, was thrashed and abused by Markandeya and Arun on Monday morning,” he said.
Yadav said an FIR was lodged against the duo on basis of a written complaint of Yuvraj after which they were arrested.
Quoting Yuvraj’s complaint, Yadav said the duo were pressurising Yuvraj to construct a pathway up to their residence’s entrance from road using the concrete which meant for drainage construction.
He said Yuvraj expressed his incapability to do so citing reason that he can’t construct road using the concrete meant for drainage construction.
“It was then the duo thrashed him and Markandeya opened fire five rounds in air using a double barrel gun which terrorized everyone around,” he said.
SHO Yadav said a regular rifle, an airgun, 25 live cartridges of .315 bore, 20 live cartridges of double barrel gun and two empty cartridges of .12 bore used in firing were seized from the duo. “The double barrel gun was not found,” he added.
Meanwhile, the joint secretary, when asked, told TOI over phone that he only had knowledge about dispute between the contractor and his son and brother. “I won’t be able to comment what had unfolded at the spot,” he added.