A former student union president of Rudrapur Degree College, Pratap Singh Bisht, was gunned down in broad daylight at Shakti Farm, Udhamsingh Nagar, on Saturday. It is the second such incident in the recent time where sharp-shooters fired shots in public places, the first one having occurred at Roorkee jail premises in Haridwar district in August this year.
Sources alleged that Bist had been earlier working with an MlA from Uttar Pradesh, but these days he was working on his own and this incurred the wrath of his former mentor. "This incident has exposed the nadir the law and order situation in the State has plunged into. Police remaining engaged only in humouring the politicians have landed the State in such dire straits," said an observer
Ex-student leader shot in UttarakhandAccording to eyewitnesses, Bisht was sitting in a shop when a few bike-borne people came and opened fire indiscriminately. Shots were supposedly fired from 9mm pistol. Several rounds were fired. Bisht died on the spot. Two people, who were sitting with Bisht, sustained bullet injuries too in the shooting.
Sources said the shooting spree continued for about ten minutes. It is not yet known whether Bisht fired in retaliation. This incident has triggered panic among the locals. Importantly, the area falls under the Assembly constituency of former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.
By the time police reached the spot the shooters fled. later, police rushed the injured to hospital. The seriously injured was later referred to Haldwani. Police sent Bisht's body for post- mortem examination.
Senior police officers reached the spot. A large number of security persons were deployed in and around Shakti Farm, Sitarganj. Meanwhile, forensic experts have been pressed into service to collect the spot evidences. However, police are still clueless regarding the motive behind the incident. We are probing the case from all angles - business rivalry and personal enmity, a police official, probing the case, said.
However, sources said the rivalry in mining might have been the motive. Bisht remained active in mining business. He wielded influence there too. Recently Chief Minister Harish Rawat had said that the State is turning notorious for illegal mining and transfer posting. He had vowed to stamp them out at any cost. However, it is well-known that the menace is well-entrenched in the region with the mining and the land mafias calling the shots. Sources said that more such gang wars are in store with police remaining hamstrung owing to multiple reasons.