Patna: A day after a 22-year-old student was beaten to death by masked men on a college campus in Patna, police have arrested the main suspect. The investigation revealed that the fatal attack stemmed from an altercation over a dandiya night event last year.
Harsh Raj, a third-year Vocational English student at BN College, was taking an exam at Sultanganj Law College when masked attackers armed with sticks assaulted him, leaving him critically injured. Police arrived at the scene and transported him to a hospital, where he later died during treatment.
The incident occurred around 1 pm when Harsh Raj, a resident of Vaishali district, exited the examination hall at Patna Law College after his final-year exams. He was immediately rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where he died during treatment. Soon after the incident, a police team led by the additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Patna City, Dasrath R S, visited the spot.
Police Investigation and Arrest:
City SP (East) Bharat Soni stated, “A heinous crime occurred on the law college campus yesterday when anti-social elements brutally attacked a student, Harsh Raj, leading to his death. We formed a Special Investigation Team and have now arrested the main accused, Chandan Yadav, a final-year student of Patna College, who planned the attack. Yadav has admitted to the crime, and we are actively pursuing the other suspects involved.”
He mentioned that the incident took place “inside the campus auditorium.” While there is no CCTV footage of the incident, police are reviewing videos shot by those present at the scene.
Background and Motive:
Police stated that the attack was triggered by an altercation at a dandiya event during Dussehra last year. “There was a fight between two groups, and tensions flared up persistently. This led the accused to plan the attack. It is a case under Section 302,” said the senior police officer.
The officer stated that the Dussehra night altercation was followed by several heated exchanges, with the accused admitting that “his ego had been bruised,” according to Soni.
Visual Evidence and Legal Proceedings:
Chilling visuals from the campus show the attackers repeatedly hitting the victim with sticks. A police case has been registered, and officers are examining CCTV footage from the campus to identify the assailants.
The tragic death of Harsh Raj has sparked outrage and highlighted the issue of campus violence. Authorities are under pressure to ensure justice for the victim and prevent such incidents in the future.
