Bihar: Lawyer shot dead in Patna; 4 killed in shootings in last 24 hours
Patna: A 58-year-old man named Jitendra Kumar Mahto was shot dead on Thursday in the Sultanpur police station area of Patna. Mahto, who was a lawyer by profession, was returning after having tea when unknown attackers opened fire on him. He was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.
According to Patna East SP Parichay Kumar, three bullet shells were found at the spot, and police are looking into the case from all possible angles. Mahto had stopped practising law about two years ago, but he would regularly visit the area for tea, his family said.
Senior police officers, including Patna City ASP Atulesh Jha, visited the scene. The local police are reviewing CCTV footage from the area, and the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has been informed to assist in the investigation.
Mahto's killing is the fourth such incident in Bihar within 24 hours, raising concerns about the law and order situation in the state, especially with elections nearing.
Earlier, on Saturday, a businessman named Putu Khan was shot in the head at close range at Mehsaul Chowk in Sitamarhi, one of the busiest markets in the district. CCTV footage of the attack shows the shooting happening in broad daylight. Khan died during treatment at a private hospital.
His family refused to allow a post-mortem and protested on the road with his body, blaming a land dispute linked to his business for the murder. The area remained tense, and locals did not allow media persons to shoot videos during the protest.
In another incident the same day, Surendra Kumar, a 50-year-old veterinary doctor and former BJP Kisan Morcha block president, was shot in Sheikhpura village in Patna district while watering his field. Two men on a motorcycle fired at him. Villagers found him with bullet injuries and took him to AIIMS Patna, where he later died. Police have not yet found any eyewitnesses and are investigating various angles, including political ones.
A day earlier, on Friday evening, a grocery shop owner named Vikram Jha was shot dead in the Ramkrishna Nagar area of Patna by an unknown attacker. The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
So far, no arrests have been made in any of these four killings.
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Karnataka launches state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology in Bengaluru
Bengaluru (PTI): In a significant boost to India’s rapidly expanding space economy, the Karnataka government on Friday launched the country’s first state-led Centre of Excellence for Space Technology here, officials said.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities to translate space innovation into scalable commercial outcomes, they said.
The Centre, established by the Government of Karnataka through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society in collaboration with SIA (Satcom Industry Association India) -India, was inaugurated by Minister for Electronics, IT/BT, and Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, in the presence of senior officials and industry leaders, officials said.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Kharge said that Karnataka has consistently been at the forefront of India's technology and innovation journey. With the launch of this Centre of Excellence for Space Technology, we are extending that leadership into one of the most strategic sectors of the future.
"Our focus is not just on advancing research, but on creating an ecosystem where innovation can translate into real-world applications, economic growth, and high-quality jobs. This Centre will play a critical role in positioning Karnataka as a key driver of India's space economy," he said.
According to an official statement, the CoE SpaceTech Foundation has been established under a Memorandum of Agreement between KITS and SIA-India to drive research and innovation in space technologies, industry-aligned training, startup incubation and cross-sector applications, it said.
The Centre has also formalised strategic MoUs with multiple industry and academic partners to support research in space biotech and microgravity, enable collaboration, build talent pipelines, and provide startups with training and market access, it added.
