Bihar father-in-law shoots nursing student dead over inter-caste marriage, accused beaten by students

A 25-year-old nursing student, Rahul Kumar, was shot dead by his father-in-law, Premshankar Jha, inside Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) on Tuesday evening. Kumar was a second-year BSc Nursing student, while his wife, Tannu Priya, a first-year nursing student, was present during the attack. The couple had married four months ago in an inter-caste marriage, which reportedly caused tension in Priya’s family.

According to Priya, her father opposed the marriage and approached Kumar wearing a hoodie before opening fire. She said, "He had a gun. It was my father, Premshankar Jha. He shot my husband in the chest, in front of my eyes. My husband fell into my lap." Priya also alleged that her entire family was involved in a conspiracy to kill her husband. The couple lived on separate floors of the same hostel building.

After the shooting, Kumar was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved. Students present at the scene overpowered and beat Premshankar Jha, who sustained injuries and was admitted to PMCH Patna for treatment. Police took Jha into custody and confirmed that a love marriage had taken place in April 2025, and that the victim’s friends were present at the scene. A case of murder has been registered.

The incident led to protests by nursing students who blocked the Emergency Room entrance demanding justice. Police used mild force to clear the crowd and have increased security at the hospital. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the case. Senior officials visited the site immediately after the incident.