In a major shootout incident, six bike-borne criminals looted a liquor shop at gun-point and when protested by local residents the criminals opened firing at Pardih under Azadnagar police station area late last night. In the firing three persons were injured, one of them critically. The critically injured victim identified as Satish Singh (42) was rushed to Tata Main Hospital's emergency, while the two others were taken to the MGM Medical College and Hospital . The condition of Singh, who is a resident of Mango continues to be critical.
Satish Singh is an office-bearer of Tarak Mukherjee Ramnavami Akhara. The functionaries of Akhara today set up a blockade on NH-33 along Pardih, bringing the vehicular traffic movement to a standstill. Moreover, the owners of the shops and business establishments at Pardih closed their shutters since this morning in protest against the act and also demanding a picket at the Pardih Chowk near Mango. The Akhara functionaries have also decided that as one of the members was fell to criminals' bullet on the eve of the Ram Navami Jhanda procession, they would not take out any procession today.
As huge number of vehicles were stranded at the either side of the blockade, a police party led by deputy superintendent of police (Patamda) Amit Kumar Singh reached the spot and convinced the protestors to lift the blockade.
After the DSP had assured that the criminals responsible for the loot-cum-firing will be arrested within 24 hours and a police picket will be set up within 72, hours, the protestors had lifted the blockade by 10.30 am.
Mukesh Kumar, owner of the liquor shop where the loot and firing took place, said that it was about 10 pm when six bike-borne criminals arrived near the shop. They took the cash, which was about Rs 50,000 and started to leave.