Police unable to identify gunmen

The shooting occurred around 6.45 pm when the steel market was preparing to shut after the day’s business. Two men suddenly barged into Bharat Steel Yard in Khetwadi 7th Lane and fired at manager Lalchand Bishnoi and his elder brother Ratnaram,who had gone to the shop to visit Lalchand. While Lalchand (35) was declared dead on admission,Ratnaram succumbed to injuries at Harkisondas Hospital.

According to the police,the accused entered Bharat Steel Yard and told manager Lalchand that they had come to meet shop owner Kirti Mulchand Shah. When Lalchand told them that Shah was not in office,one of them pulled out a country-made pistol and fired two rounds at him. When the other staff employees tried to chase them,the assailants fired one round in the air and fled on a motorcycle after dropping the weapon there.

The investigating officers said the weapon (a country made revolver) they recovered from the spot was wrapped in a plastic bag and had not been used.

Anil Kumbhare,deputy commissioner of police (zone II),said they are preparing sketches of the gunmen based on the description given by the employees of the shop. “We are recording the statements of the employees and the owners,but till now the motive behind the firing is not clear,” said Kumbhare.

The deceased,who hailed from Sanchor village in Rajasthan,stayed with their families at the Navrang chawl in Khetwadi. Their bodies have been taken to their village for last rights.

Kumbhare added that Kirti Mulchand Shah did not identify any of the assailants and had denied any enmity or extortion threat in his statement.