Bihar: JDU Leader’s Brother, Wife, and Daughter Found Dead in Purnea

Purnea: Hours before Bihar’s first phase of assembly elections, the brother of senior Janata Dal (United) leader Niranjan Kushwaha, his wife, and their teenage daughter were found dead under suspicious circumstances at their residence in European Colony late Tuesday night, triggering a high-level police probe.

The deceased have been identified as Naveen Kushwaha, a prominent local businessman and former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Lok Sabha candidate, his wife Kanchan Mala Singh, and his daughter Tanu Priya. All three were pronounced dead on arrival at a nearby hospital.

According to Niranjan Kushwaha, the tragedy began when Tanu Priya slipped and fell down the stairs. Naveen rushed to help but lost his balance and fell. Kanchan, witnessing the incident, reportedly collapsed from shock and later died in the hospital.

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However, police and medical accounts raise serious doubts. Purnea Superintendent of Police Sweety Sehrawat confirmed visible injuries: Naveen had a mark on his neck, Tanu Priya sustained a head injury, and Kanchan was already unwell. “The exact cause of death will only be clear after the post-mortem report,” she said, adding that forensic teams are collecting evidence from the scene.

A hospital doctor who examined the bodies told reporters, “This does not appear to be a natural death. Tanu was brought in first, then Kanchan. Naveen arrived half an hour later with a neck mark. All three succumbed one after another.”

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Sub-Inspector Uday Kumar, the first officer on site, said initial observations suggest Tanu may have died from the fall, Kanchan possibly from cardiac arrest triggered by grief, and Naveen from his injuries—but stressed that every angle is under investigation.

Independent MP Pappu Yadav, who visited the family, demanded a thorough inquiry. “This is a highly suspicious case. The post-mortem will reveal the truth. The administration must probe deeply—natural death seems unlikely,” he said.

The incident has sent shockwaves through Purnea, a key electoral battleground, with opposition leaders hinting at possible political motives. Police have sealed the residence and are awaiting autopsy results expected within 48 hours.