A 15-year-old boy was shot dead during an idol-immersion procession near Paschim Darwaza in Patna City on Wednesday night, prompting police to halt the procession and investigate a possible dispute among members of the local puja committee.
The victim, identified as Kundan Kumar, was taken to Guru Gobind Singh Hospital after the shooting. He was later referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital, where he died during treatment, according to the report.
City SP (East) Shaileja said police reached the spot after receiving information about the shooting and began investigating the incident. “Initial investigation has revealed the possible involvement of a committee member. However, a thorough probe into all aspects of the incident is underway, and further legal action will be taken,” she said.
Police are examining whether an internal dispute within the puja committee led to the shooting. Investigators are questioning family members and other people who were present to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the person responsible.
The shooting caused commotion at the immersion site and brought the procession to a halt. Reports that the orchestra trolley was vandalised were not confirmed by police, who denied that vandalism had taken place. The conflicting accounts reflected the disorder that followed the shooting as the crowd gathered at the site.
With tension prevailing, Patna City DSP Shiv Shankar Kumar drove the tractor carrying the procession vehicle to the side of the road. Police subsequently restored order and ensured that the idol immersion was completed peacefully.
The incident places attention on the policing arrangements required during crowded religious processions, when temporary routes, large gatherings and moving vehicles can make it difficult to separate public celebrations from emerging disputes. In this case, the reported trigger under investigation was not a traffic or route issue but a possible disagreement within the organising committee.
Police have not announced a confirmed motive or identified an accused person in the supplied report. The investigation is continuing, with questioning of family members and others expected to help establish what happened before the shooting and determine the next legal steps.
