AHMEDABAD, Aug 10: In a sensational incident, First Class Judicial Magistrate Nilesh C Prajapati was shot at in Siddhpur town in North Gujarat on Monday morning by two unidentified assailants.Prajapati was rushed to New Civil Hospital here with two bullet injuries on the left side of his chest. The hospital described his condition as stable. Two suspects have been picked up for interrogation.According to Patan District Superintendent of Police (DSP) P B Gondia, the incident took place around 10.15 am when Prajapati left his Govind-Madhav Society residence for his office on foot. When he reached the main road, a man emerged from a waiting white Maruti Fronti (GJ-2-A-6211), pulled out a revolver and fired two shots from close range.Prajapati, who was hit in the left side of chest and on left forearm, slumped on the ground. He was rushed to Adani hospital in Siddhpur for first-aid and then to two private hospitals in Ahmedabad before he was finally admitted to New Civil Hospital.Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel told reporters that the Government had taken a serious note of the incident, but maintained that it was isolated.He disagreed that the incident pointed to the deteriorating law and order situation, and ruled out the possibility that Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya's portfolio would be changed.An X-ray revealed a pellet lodged in the left side of Prajapati's chest. Hospital superintendent M M Prabhakar said Prajapati was stable and there was no need to operate on him at this stage. However, if bleeding starts, surgery would be required, he said. ``He is under continuous observation,'' Prabhakar said. Prajapati, who was fully conscious and could talk, was kept in the intensive care unit (ICU).According to Prajapati's account given to Siddhpur police, there were two persons in the car, a man in the driver's seat and the assailant donning a dark-colored shirt and seating in the back seat. According to a lawyer from Siddhpur, the car was lying in wait for at least half hour, and disappeared after the attack.Gandhinagar range DIG Geeta Johri said that Anil Soni and Dharmendra Soni, residents of Karjisan village in Kadi taluka of Mehsana district, were picked up but were yet to be interrogated. She said the car number as given by Prajapati was traced to these men through RTO.She said police were working on two fronts - personal and professional. But it was yet to be established as to which weapon was used.According to a Sidhpur lawyer, Prajapati deals with bail in liquor and gambling cases. However, Prajapati told police that he did not have enmity or old rivalry with any one. The 35-year-old was transferred to Siddhpur from Mehsana this June 15. He belongs to Vadodara.
