Gun shots rattled the tranquility of the city again as unknown assailants shot a 32-year-old trader Amit Agrawal on Saturday late night. In the other incident of firing, a 45-year-old truck driver was seriously injured as two bike-borne criminals attacked him near Tata Steel's Tube Division gate under Burmamines police station area causing the truck driver to sustain serious injuries.
According to the information, Agrawal who has a grocery shop at Golmuri market went over to a Tinplate-based hotel where he took his dinner. From the hotel as he was returning home, towards Sidhgora, two bike-borne criminals intercepted him and asked to hand over the bag he was carrying. As he refused criminals fired as many as five shots at Agrawal before running with the money bag, officer-in-charge, Golmuri Nehaluddin Khan said the shooting was a case of snatching and the trader had only Rs 1,300 which the criminals took away.
"As per our initial investigation it appears that the criminals were following the trader closely. The trader was known to him and they planned to attack him,” noted the officer. Meanwhile, hospital sources said that Agrawal’s condition is still serious. In the second incident a truck driver Satpal Singh, who was heading towards Telco and was shot at by two bike-borne criminals who stopped him at a little distance away from his company’s gate.
In another incident, a 19-year-old youth Shubham Singh was seriously injured as a group of criminals attacked him with iron rods and a pistol butt near his residence at Cable Town under Golmuri police station. The victim was rushed to MGM Medical College and Hospital where he is reportedly serious. Senior superintendent of police, Amol V Homkar said that some people are desperately trying to disturb the city and these incidents of grievous crime are a result of it. "We are taking every step to ensure strict vigil and several drives have been carried on," said the senior SP.
City-based social worker Rajesh Sinha said the city had been free from crimes, but now the Rs knife culture' has taken roots. The police should act with utmost vigil and nab the accused. He said that increase in crimes is a matter of concern. Thefts were common but recent escalation in murder cases is rather serious.