Gun fired accidentally, liquor salesman killed

GREATER NOIDA: A 30-year-old salesman of a liquor shop died after he was accidentally shot by one of his two colleagues in Surajpur late on Thursday night. The three were drinking and playing with a country-made gun outside their outlet after closing the shutters, police said.

Anant Singh, the victim, was rushed to a private hospital in a critical condition by two others, where he was declared brought dead. Originally from Allahabad, Anant lived in a rented accommodation in Greater Noida and had been working at the liquor kiosk for the past two years.

Police said that Anant and two other salesmen — Samar Bahadur and Deepak — shut the shop around 11.30 pm on Thursday.

"While having drinks and dinner outside their kiosk, the trio started playing with the gun that they had. Believing it was not loaded, they were pointing the gun at each other. But Deepak suddenly pulled the trigger and a bullet hit Anant's chest," said Amit Kumar Shrivastava, circle officer 1, Greater Noida.

Deepak and Bahadur immediately rushed the victim to a nearby private hospital. "The hospital informed the cops and referred the victim to another private hospital, where he was declared brought dead," he added.

Anant's brother Anil said he received a call from Samar around 12 am.

"He told me that someone had shot my brother, but he did not name the accused. We reached the hospital around 2 am. Doctors said my brother had sustained a bullet in his chest and died. Anant had no enmity with Deepak," he told TOI.

A local resident in Surajpur said, "The three were speaking loudly and pointing fingers at each other while having liquor outside their shop. Suddenly we heard a gunshot and one of them collapsed."

Police said Deepak has been arrested and the shop sealed. "A case of murder under IPC Section 302 has been registered. The accused was produced in a court that sent him to 14-day judicial custody," said a police official.

The liquor kiosk management has assured financial assistance to Anant's family. He is survived by his wife Sushma (28) and three-year-old daughter.