Ara: A trivial dispute over lighting a cigarette turned fatal in Bhojpur district late Tuesday night, claiming two lives amid the background cheer of an IPL final being streamed on TV in a village egg shop.The incident occurred around 9pm at Ratnadh village under Garhani police station area. Villagers had gathered at a roadside egg kiosk, absorbed in the final of the cricket match, when a bizarre argument escalated. Two villagers—Sonu Ansari (22), an Intermediate student who also ran the kiosk, and Chandan Kumar alias Manjhil Yadav (36), a Bengaluru-based private company employee—allegedly got into a heated altercation over who would get to use the matchbox first to light their cigarette.According to Bhojpur SP Raj, “As per our preliminary investigation, a quarrel broke out between Sonu and his acquaintance and co-villager Chandan over a trivial issue late on Tuesday night. Both the victims had got a cigarette each in their hands and an altercation arose over who would get the matchbox first to light their respective cigarettes. In the ensuing quarrel, both sides fired gunshots on each other resulting in the death of both Sonu and Chandan.”The verbal duel soon spiralled into a gunfight. Chandan received three bullet wounds and collapsed before reaching sadar hospital in Ara. Sonu, also critically injured, succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to Garhani primary health centre (PHC).Both hailed from the same village. Sonu was the son of Kallu Mian, while Chandan—whose wife passed away six months ago during childbirth—had come home to celebrate his son’s birthday. He is survived by his mother, siblings, and two young children.Acting swiftly, police arrested one of the named accused, Vishnu Sah, son of Buxar Sah of Ratnadh village. “The police arrested one of the named accused in the FIR, Vishnu Sah, son of one Buxar Sah of Ratnadh village. Raids are going on to nab the other two accused,” said the SP. He added that a country-made pistol was recovered from the arrested man, along with five empty cartridges from the spot.“An SIT has been constituted to nab the other two named accused. We hope to arrest the remaining culprits soon. Two separate FIRs have been lodged from both the rival sides. Further investigation is going on in the case,” the SP added.Chandan’s younger brother, Kundan Kumar, said, “My brother had come home just to celebrate his son’s birthday. None of us could have imagined such a petty thing could lead to his death.”Ara: A trivial dispute over lighting a cigarette turned fatal in Bhojpur district late Tuesday night, claiming two lives amid the background cheer of an IPL final being streamed on TV in a village egg shop.The incident occurred around 9pm at Ratnadh village under Garhani police station area. Villagers had gathered at a roadside egg kiosk, absorbed in the final of the cricket match, when a bizarre argument escalated. Two villagers—Sonu Ansari (22), an Intermediate student who also ran the kiosk, and Chandan Kumar alias Manjhil Yadav (36), a Bengaluru-based private company employee—allegedly got into a heated altercation over who would get to use the matchbox first to light their cigarette.According to Bhojpur SP Raj, “As per our preliminary investigation, a quarrel broke out between Sonu and his acquaintance and co-villager Chandan over a trivial issue late on Tuesday night. Both the victims had got a cigarette each in their hands and an altercation arose over who would get the matchbox first to light their respective cigarettes. In the ensuing quarrel, both sides fired gunshots on each other resulting in the death of both Sonu and Chandan.“The verbal duel soon spiralled into a gunfight. Chandan received three bullet wounds and collapsed before reaching sadar hospital in Ara. Sonu, also critically injured, succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to Garhani primary health centre (PHC).Both hailed from the same village. Sonu was the son of Kallu Mian, while Chandan—whose wife passed away six months ago during childbirth—had come home to celebrate his son’s birthday. He is survived by his mother, siblings, and two young children.Acting swiftly, police arrested one of the named accused, Vishnu Sah, son of Buxar Sah of Ratnadh village. “The police arrested one of the named accused in the FIR, Vishnu Sah, son of one Buxar Sah of Ratnadh village. Raids are going on to nab the other two accused,” said the SP. He added that a country-made pistol was recovered from the arrested man, along with five empty cartridges from the spot.“An SIT has been constituted to nab the other two named accused. We hope to arrest the remaining culprits soon. Two separate FIRs have been lodged from both the rival sides. Further investigation is going on in the case,” the SP added.Chandan’s younger brother, Kundan Kumar, said, “My brother had come home just to celebrate his son’s birthday. None of us could have imagined such a petty thing could lead to his death.”