Day after shooting,business as usual for eye-witness,with a little extra attention

The 26-year-old,a native of Adalat Ganj in Patna and a resident of Kalyanpuri here,does not appear bemused when approached. He is more than enthusiastic when asked about Sunday’s events. “I have spoken to over a hundred people already and even more policemen,” he says effervescently.

He narrates the incident: “I was just starting my day with two foreigners for passengers en route to the Gurdwara. Sunday being a holiday,there weren’t too many people around. There was a tourist bus waiting for visitors who were coming out of the Masjid. The last two were boarding the bus when two men — burly,tall and fair — arrived on a black bike and fired at them.”

The pillion rider,according to Saleem,wore a green shirt and was carrying a black bag. The two foreigners on his rickshaw alighted and ran towards the police station. Saleem followed his instincts and raised an alarm. Along with him,Constable Pramod,who was stationed at Gate No 3,ran after the assailants with stones. “They started firing at us but as we had raised an alarm,they panicked and dropped the magazine of their gun,” says Saleem.

With no formal education,Saleem has been working as a rickshaw-puller for 12 years. “My parents didn’t have enough money to raise me. This was our only means of livelihood,” says Saleem,a father of two. The rickshaw he pulls is a rented one. With a measly daily earning of Rs 300,he usually ends up spending the night in the parking lot,as a bus ride back home would cost him around Rs 26,an option “not affordable”.