Trader escapes murder attempt in Madhubani

Madhubani: Unidentified bike-borne criminalsopened fire at a medicine trader, Manoj Kumar, at Pipraun petrol pump under Harlakhi police station area in Benipatti subdivision of Madhubani district on Friday morning. However, Manoj escaped the bullet.According to police, Manoj, a resident of Basopatti police station area, runs a medicine business in Umgaon. He was out for personal work when the incident occurred. The criminals had been following him and sensing danger, Manoj stopped at the Pipraun petrol pump and attempted to take cover behind a glass panel. However, the assailants fired at him, but fortunately, the bullet missed. This is not the first time Manoj has been targeted. In 2019, his medicine shop was also attacked, followed by a robbery on Basopatti Road, people informed.Upon receiving information of the attack, the newly appointed Harlakhi SHO, Anoop Kumar, along with additional SHO Aditya Kumar and police personnel, rushed to the spot. An empty cartridge was recovered from the site. "The entire incident have been recorded in CCTV cameras installed at the petrol pump, and we are using technical assistance to analyze the footage. Besides, the police have intensified search operations along possible escape routes," the SHO said.The attack has sparked outrage among locals and public representatives, including Santosh Singh Kushwaha, Sarpanch Aseshwar Mukhiya, and Jan Suraj Party neta Mohd Mustafa.Benipatti SDPO Nishikant Bharti too visited the crime scene and gathered detailed information from locals. He assured that the investigation is underway and all angles are being thoroughly examined.