VADODARA, MAY 12: In a Mumbai-style drive-by attack, one person was killed and two seriously injured, including Congress councillor Shailesh Mehta (Sotta), when two people - one of whom is alleged to be wanted criminal Raju Rohida - alighted from a car and shot them in a high-rise commercial complex in the Waghodia Road area on Tuesday evening.Eyewitnesses said two persons, including Rohida, got down from a white Maruti Esteem or 1000 at around 6.30 pm, stormed into Sotta's office on the ground floor of the multi-storeyed Manki Complex and opened fire at three persons, including Sotta, sitting there.They are believed to have fired at least five rounds from a revolver before walking away, leaving the three men injured. Sotta, a partner in the company that constructed the building, was hit by two bullets on his right arm and in the ribs.Another witness, however, said Rohida came to the office alone, shot the three men and was escaping when the injured persons tried to catch him. On seeing this, anotheroccupant of the car came out to Rohida's rescue; both escaped.While Jagjivan Rupala alias Tina who had been shot in the chest, died on his way to hospital, Nilesh was hit by a bullet in the hand. Doctors said Nilesh was out of danger, while Sotta was critical after a bullet was removed from his ribs.A police spokesman said the police control room received a call from Sotta at around 6.30 pm, stating that he had been shot by Raju Rohida. The police also took the statements of Babu Dhobi, a servant of Sotta who recognised Rohida. Dhobi too later informed the police and was named an eye-witness to the crime.Confirming this, Deputy Commissioner of Police P K Valera said the motive behind the crime was yet to be established. However, sources say one reason could be a financial dispute between Sotta and Rohida. Another theory is that a tiff developed between the two after Rohida reportedly tried to extort money from Sotta because of his involvement in real estate business.Valera did note, however, thatnone of the shopkeepers in and around the complex could note down the exact details of the attackers or the vehicle used.
