In yet another high profile criminal case in the capital city, 40-year-old Yashwant Singh was killed in Dhurwa locality, while his brother Pratap Singh sustained serious bullet injuries on Friday morning. The incident took place under Dhurwa Police Station in the morning when the victims were returning after a morning walk near Heavy Engineering Corporation.
According to police, the exchange of firing took place near Kunwar Singh Chowk between both sons of HEC labour Union leader Rana Sangram Singh -- Yashwant and Pratap-- and one Amar Singh, who is also a relative of that family. Police said that during firing, Yashwant and Pratap sustained bullet injuries.
Yashwant with several bullet injuries was taken to Medica Hospital where he took his last breath. Condition of his elder brother Pratap was said to be stable but critical.
The assailant Amar Singh, who is a relative of the deceased Yashwant's elder brother Ram Ikbal Singh, was arrested by police along with his driver Ramesh. Their vehicle, a white coloured Innova, with several bullet marks was also seized by police.
The Dhurwa Police Station in-charge said that an FIR is yet to be lodged in the case. “We are awaiting statements and some formalities to be completed before lodging an FIR. Two persons have been arrested and Amar Singh has said that he fired in self-defence. He fired shots from his licensed rifle,” the Station in-charge said.
On being asked whether Yashwant and Pratap fired from licensed arms and how come they were carrying arms during morning walk, the Inspector said that investigation was being done on the matter and the victims' family is yet to say anything about the case. “They have many licensed weapons,” he added.
Police sources added that a dispute over land and business was prime cause of the firing between the two groups.
A number of people from political and social groups, especially those from Congress and close to veteran leader Rana Sangram Singh expressed deep distress over the incident. Former Union Minister Subodh Kant Sahay reached Medica Hospital and met the octogenarian leader there. The Jharkhand Pradesh Congress Committee also expressed grief over the incident condemning the government for its failure to curb crime in the city.
Rana Sangram Singh is regarded a senior labour union leader of HEC, who is also spearheading fight of the HEC displaced persons front. Singh is also attached to Congress garnering support for senior leaders from the HEC area.