AIMIM chief killed by gunshot in Bihar; second such death since December

Leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Abdul Salam, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen late on Monday in the Gopalganj region of Bihar. Since December, Salam is the second AIMIM leader to die in Bihar.

Riding a pillion with a relative, Salam was on his way to board a train when four attackers on two motorbikes opened fire on him. Salam lost the by-poll to the Gopalganj assembly seat in November 2022. Salam was taken to a hospital and, according to the police, died there from his wounds.

Superintendent Swarn Prabhat of the Gopalganj police department said that a Special Investigation Team has been formed and is now investigating the reason behind the murder.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar came under fire from AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi over the state’s peace and order issues. “Our Siwan district president, Arif Jamal, was shot and killed in December of last year. Nitish Kumar, go to work when you’ve finished competing to save the chair. Why is the aim limited to our leaders? Will justice be served to their families? Owaisi posted on Monday night on X.

Adil Hasan Azad, the Bihar spokesman for AIMIM, described Salam as an honorable and non-controversial leader who is having a political impact. “We want a thorough investigation into the matter by the police.”