- By Vivek Raj
- Tue, 28 May 2024 08:57 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Patna University, Law College Murder: Harsh Raj, a 22-year-old student, was beaten to death by masked attackers on the Patna Law College campus on Monday afternoon. Harsh Raj was a final-year student at BN College and a prominent political figure in student politics, serving as the national president of the Loknayak Yuva Parishad organisation.
The incident occurred around 1 PM when Raj, after finishing his exam, was sitting on his motorbike on campus. He was attacked by assailants armed with sticks, bricks, and stones. They continued to beat him until he lost consciousness, then fled the scene on bikes. Despite the presence of over 50 people on campus, no one intervened to stop the attack.
Friends of Harsh rushed him to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Police officials, including Patna City ASP Dasrath R S, arrived at the scene to collect evidence and investigate the incident. The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team and a dog squad were also deployed.
“Harsh Raj was killed after 7-8 criminals brutally assaulted him. He was soon taken to the hospital but he died there. We are scanning the CCTV footage of the crime and other evidences are being collected. Efforts are on to trace the assailants,” ASP said.
City SP (East) Bharat Soni stated that the motive for the murder remains unclear, with police exploring angles of political rivalry and personal disputes.
Patna Law College Murder: University Closed
After the murder of Harsh Raj inside the university campus, all examinations of Patna University scheduled on May 28 have been cancelled and all colleges will remain closed on Tuesday, a university notification issued in the evening said.
Who Was Harsh Raj?
Harsh Raj, a resident of Majhauli village in Vaishali district, was active in student politics. He had recently returned to Patna after campaigning for NDA candidate Shambhavi Chaudhary in the Samastipur Lok Sabha constituency. He returned to Patna after the sixth phase of voting on May 25 and was planning to contest the upcoming Patna University Students Union elections. He was active as a social worker even during the Corona period.
Raj's father, Ajit Kumar, a correspondent for a Hindi daily, and his mother, a housewife, were devastated by the news. Raj was the eldest of two siblings, with a younger sister recently admitted to Intermediate school. His family, including his grandparents, a retired teacher, and uncles, are mourning his loss.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack lasted about 20 minutes, but college guards and staff did not intervene. The police have obtained two short video clips showing the attack, which are being used to identify the culprits.
College Principal Vani Bhushan and BN College Principal Dr. Raj Kishore have expressed grief over the incident and called for legal action against those responsible. Members of the University Student Union have also demanded strict action against the perpetrators.