Two youths injured in shootout incident

Two youths were injured in a shootout in the city on Thursday. Police suspected dispute between two slum areas in the locality to be the reason behind the incident.

Laltu Mahato and Naina Dhivar, both the resident of Sonari were going to join duty when a group of six youths attacked on them and started firing near Kagalnagar auto stand.

Mahato sustained bullet injuries on waist and hand while Dhivar got his stomach injured.  Mahato was admitted to Tata Main Hospital as he was serious while his friend was released from the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) after primary treatment. He had narrow escape in the shootout as bullet had passed with touching his stomach.

Assistant sub inspector of Sonari police station SK Mahato said that it was not a gang war or dispute between two criminal gangs in the locality. Over old pity disputes between two slum areas near Kagalnagar, youths attacked on another group, he added.

FIR has been lodged against six youths including Akash, Raju, Panchu, Guddu and other two residents of Sonari. None could be arrested so far while the police are investigating reason behind incident.

Police officials said that accused will be arrested within a couple of days.

The city had been free from crimes, but now the ‘knife culture’ has taken roots. The increase in crimes is a matter of concern. Thefts were a common but recent rise of cases of murders is serious.

“ A crime wave has gripped the city in recent months with figures showing a substantial increase in the number of murders, thefts and robberies taking place across the city. Our city has the reputation of being the safe but in few days crime graph has witnessed a sudden rise. It is high time that police identifies such criminals and action is taken against them,” said a resident.