A tragic incident has shocked Bihar's Vaishali district, where armed miscreants shot dead a 32-year-old gold businessman just a day before the Raksha Bandhan festival. The crime took place late Thursday night on the stretch between Bindi Chowk and Ram Suresh Chowk, falling under the jurisdiction of the Tisiauta police station. The attackers fired multiple rounds at close range before escaping with the victim's bag, leaving local traders in fear and anger.
Ambushed Near Residence Following Late Night Closure
The victim has been identified as 32-year-old Vishal Kumar Soni, originally a resident of the Maniyari police station area in Muzaffarpur district. For the past 8 years, Vishal had been residing in rented accommodation owned by Kameshwar Sah at Ram Suresh Chowk. He operated a jewellery store located inside the Phoolkumari Market, owned by Lalbabu Rai, near Ram Suresh Chowk. Owing to the heavy festival rush ahead of Raksha Bandhan, Vishal had shut his shop later than usual and was returning to his residence on foot.
When he reached a deserted stretch barely 500 meters from his home, assailants who were lying in wait surrounded him. Without warning, the criminals opened fire from point-blank range, pumping 3 bullets into him. Vishal collapsed on the road immediately, covered in blood. Taking advantage of the dark and chaos, the perpetrators grabbed his bag and fled the scene.
Succumbed to Injuries Prior to Reaching Hospital
The sound of gunfire triggered panic among nearby residents, who gathered at the spot shortly after. Upon receiving information, an emergency response team from Dial 112 reached the location and rushed the critically injured businessman to the nearby Jandaha Primary Health Centre (PHC). However, attending doctors declared him brought dead. According to medical staff, Vishal had lost a massive amount of blood on the way, leading to his death before arrival.
Married 1.5 Years Ago with a One-Month-Old Infant
The sudden killing has devastated the victim's family, shattering their festive preparations. Relatives shared that Vishal was married approximately 1.5 years ago and leaves behind a 1-month-old son. Occurring right before Raksha Bandhan, the tragedy has cast a heavy pall of grief over the entire household and surrounding neighborhood, with family members inconsolable.
Police Scanning CCTV Footage and Conducting Raids
The murder has sparked intense resentment among local business owners, who expressed concerns over deteriorating security. Tisiauta Station House Officer (SHO) Rajesh Kumar stated that preliminary findings suggest a murder committed during a robbery, noting that the victim's bag was missing. Law enforcement personnel are actively reviewing CCTV footage from nearby shops and intersections to trace the escape route of the suspects, while conducting targeted raids to apprehend them.
Providing details on the case, Mahua Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Sanjeev Kumar confirmed that gold merchant Vishal Kumar Soni was killed after receiving 3 gunshot wounds in the Tisiauta area. He added that police have initiated a thorough investigation and formal proceedings will be executed based on the written statement provided by the family.
