DARBHANGA, Nov. 11 -- A written complaint alleging an earlier attempt on his life and naming his alleged attacker failed to prevent the murder of a 45-year-old man, who was shot dead inside his house on Diwali night in Darbhanga's Padari village, according to preliminary police findings. Kashikant Thakur was allegedly shot dead by Kumod Thakur around 7 pm on Sunday (November 8), police said. According to the preliminary investigation, the accused entered Kashikant's house and fired five to six rounds at him from close range. Two bullets hit him in the forehead and chest, killing him on the spot. The murder took place nearly four months after Kashikant had approached Biraul police station with a written complaint dated July 14, alleging that Kumod had earlier attempted to kill him. In his application addressed to the station house officer (SHO), Kashikant alleged that his co-villager, Kumod Thakur, had intercepted him near the village cremation ground, fired two rounds at him and robbed him of Rs.5,000 while he was lying on the ground. The accused had also threatened to eliminate him and his family, the complaint stated. Kashikant further alleged that Kumod had links with a local gang identified as the Mahakal Group, was involved in several criminal cases and possessed an illegal firearm. He sought the registration of an FIR, seizure of the weapon and appropriate legal action against the accused. A portion of the purported copy of his complaint addressed to the Biraul SHO read: "He has been creating panic throughout the village after purchasing a pistol. Life has become unbearable for my family and the people living in the neighbourhood. It is difficult to say whom he might kill and when." Police are now verifying the July 14 complaint in the wake of the murder. The circumstances in which the earlier allegations were investigated, and whether any preventive action was taken, are also likely to come under scrutiny. When contacted, Biraul SHO Chandramani told Hindustan Times on Tuesday, "The complaint was received and forwarded to a police officer for investigation. The officer visited the spot to conduct an inquiry. However, he neither followed the prescribed legal procedure while conducting the inquiry nor informed us about it." After allegedly shooting Kashikant, Kumod fled on a motorcycle. During his escape, he reportedly hit a passerby at Malaul village, around two kilometres from the crime scene and within the jurisdiction of Bahera police station, injuring the person. Villagers intercepted and caught him before handing him over to the police. Police said they recovered a loaded country-made pistol, magazines and 40 rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition, besides a sharp-edged weapon, a helmet and an improvised protective vest made from tyres, from his possession besides a damaged bike. Biraul sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Prabhakar Choudhary said preliminary findings indicated that the victim had submitted an application against the accused at the police station before the murder. The SDPO said the deceased's family members had informed him that they had submitted a written complaint at Biraul police station around four months ago. "If the complaint was submitted, we will examine what action was taken on it and why no action was taken, if that was the case. If the investigation establishes negligence on the part of any police officer, action will be recommended against the officer concerned," he said. The sub-divisional police officer said police were investigating the circumstances surrounding the murder. the source of the weapons recovered from the accused and his criminal antecedents....