Guwahati, Feb 22: Two bike-borne miscreants shot a city-based businessman dead near his residence at Chatribari here late on Monday evening and fled, leaving behind their motorcycle, reportedly as the ignition switch of the two-wheeler failed to turn on, near the place of crime.
According to sources, Avdesh Yadav, who is reported to own a few shops in the city, succumbed to his injuries after being rushed to a private hospital at Athgaon in a critical condition.
“Two miscreants had shot dead a resident of the apartment, Avdesh Yadav, who died in hospital later. He was shot while on his way back home. The incident happened around 8.26pm on Monday. We have started an investigation. However, at this moment we cannot divulge any more details in the interest of the investigation,” special DGP (law and order), G.P Singh told mediapersons.
According to reports, three persons from Kharupetia in Darrang district, including one who claims to have sold the bike (bearing registration number AS-13-D-4033) used by the assailants, have been detained by police and brought to Paltan Bazar police station for questioning on Tuesday.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, acquired from the residential complex, showed the bullet-riddled trader somehow managing to enter his residential complex and collapsing to the ground after dashing against a wall inside the complex.
Blood stains (from his chest) were noticed on the wall against which he dashed before collapsing.
The crime appears to be pre-planned as the assailants, who might have followed or were waiting for Yadav as he returned home from his business establishment, had fired at the trader from close range near his residence.
The visuals also showed the assailants running away after committing the crime.
Sources said that the miscreants also left a mobile phone behind.
According to people known to Yadav, the trader, originally from Bihar, was engaged in grocery and textile business in the city and Imphal. The motive behind the crime is yet to be known.
Reportedly, his brother was shot dead by miscreants in Bihar a few years back.
The incident bears testimony yet again to the growing incidence of crimes in the city, which is the ‘gateway’ to the Northeast.
Meanwhile, businessmen and traders in the city’s commercial hub, Fancy Bazar, where Yadav owned a few shops, kept their shutters down on Tuesday, in protest against the gruesome incident.
A section of traders, under the Readymade Garments Dealers Association of Assam, took out a protest rally, shouting slogans, demanding immediate arrest of the perpetrators of the crime, delivery of justice and security for traders.