Milk distributor killed in second attack in 90 days

GHAZIABAD: A 30-year-old distributor of a leading milk brand was shot dead by three bike-borne assailants in Ghaziabad on Wednesday. The victim, Vinit Chaudhary, a distributor for Amul, was killed while reportedly resisting a robbery bid near Rameshwar Park in Loni.

Ironically, Chaudhary was robbed of his bike and Rs 3.11 lakh in cash by bike-borne assailants in SLF Ved Vihar in Loni on July 13. That day too he was robbed by three men who opened fire in the air before escaping.

On Wednesday, he was once again waylaid by three men on a bike and shot at from close range. The crime occurred around 12 noon when Chaudhary was travelling on his motorcycle.

"The victim sustained a single shot wound on his back. He was rushed to GTB Hospital in Delhi where he succumbed to his injury. Witnesses said that there were three men on a motorcycle, one of whom fired at him," police outpost in-charge Updesh Yadav told TOI.

Following the murder, Chaudhary's family members submitted a complaint to the police, alleging that he was killed for resisting a loot attempt. The police are questioning witnesses. It's not clear if Wednesday's attack was carried out by the same men who had robbed Chaudhary in July.

"The victim's family alleged in their complaint that they received a phone call in which the caller told them about Chaudhary being shot at during a loot attempt. We are trying to trace the caller and establish his identity," said SP (rural) Arvind Maurya.

"Till now, it is unclear if loot indeed was the motive behind the murder. Investigations are under way to determine whether the victim was carrying any cash with him and where he was going to. We are also examining the angle of personal rivalry in the case," he added.