Convoy attacked while returning from tilak ceremony in Bihar; driver shot in belly, drives 5km to protect 15 passengers | Patna News – Times of India

A jeep driver, Santosh Singh, was shot in Hematpur. He prioritized his 15 passengers’ safety despite his injury. Singh is now in critical condition. Police are investigating the incident.

ARA: In the quiet village of Hematpur, aptly named as if derived from “Himmat” (courage), a tale of bravery came to light on Thursday when Santosh Singh, a jeep driver, faced a harrowing ordeal.
Despite being shot in the stomach, Singh displayed courage by refusing to abandon his 15 passengers, ensuring their safety. Sadly, Singh is now battling for his life in a private hospital in Ara.
“His entire intestine has been damaged by the bullet injury. He underwent major surgery and while the damaged parts have been repaired, he will remain under observation for at least a week. At present, his condition is stable,” said Dr Vikash Singh.
Jagdishpur SDPO Rajiv Chandra Singh said, “We are taking this incident very seriously and have engaged the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and District Intelligence Unit (DIU) teams for scientific investigation. We conducted a thorough probe along the route and sought help from locals to identify the culprits.”
The SDPO added that Singh’s vehicle was not the only one targeted. “During our investigation, we found that two other vehicles in the convoy returning from a tilak ceremony were also targeted before the driver was shot. The police recovered a pellet from the tyre of one of the vehicles. Based on our findings, it seems a mentally unstable person might be involved in the firing, as locals confirmed that the suspected miscreant does not belong to the area after being shown the sketch. Further investigations are underway,” he added.
Singh’s family has filed a complaint with the Bihiya police station but has refrained from accusing anyone. “The family has claimed no enmity with anyone,” the SDPO said.