Bihar legislator shoots wife, daughter, self (Second Lead)

PATNA - Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Abhay Singh shot dead his wife and infant daughter late Thursday night before killing himself at his home here, police said Friday.

Family sources, however, said Singh, legislator from Jamui and son of state Minister for Food and Consumer Protection Narendra Singh, carried out the shootings early Friday.

According to police, Singh first shot dead his wife and daughter, who was less than a year old, and then killed himself.

The incident sent shockwaves in the political circles here.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, most of the ministers, legislators and Leader of Opposition Rabri Devi visited Singh’s residence.

“It is an unbelievable and a shocking incident for all of us,” Nitish Kumar said.

The three were cremated at Gubi Ghat here Friday in the presence of family members, relatives and hundreds of supporters and sympathisers.

The reason behind Singh’s shooting spree is yet to be ascertained.

However, according to family sources, Singh, in his early 40s, was upset for some time due to differences with his father over some family matter. Sources said Singh’s father fell unconscious on hearing of the deaths.

“Narendra Singh was admitted to the Indira Gandhi Heart Institute at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) after his condition deteriorated. He is in the intensive care unit,” a JD-U leader close to the family said.

The police refused to comment on the motive behind the incident.

“The police are conducting scientific and physical verification of the spot of the incident,” Bihar police chief Anand Shankar said.