The firing incident that took place in Sambalpur’s Sarlakani area on Tuesday afternoon has created panic in the town. This was second such case here in five days and the sixth in last two months.
Police sources said the victim, identified as Md Sonnu, was at a road side dhaba along with his two friends when four persons came on two bikes and asked the dhaba workers to serve food. Since it was late in night, they were unable to serve food immediately. The guests got angry and started scolding the boys. One of them fired at Sonnu when he interfered. The bullet struck him on his right shoulder and the assailants fled the spot leaving Sonnu in a pool of blood. Sonnu was first admitted to the district headquarters hospital and later shifted to VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla. He was later shifted to a Cuttack hospital later in the night.
“We have registered a case and started a manhunt for the culprits. But we have not yet succeeded in arresting them,” Dhanupali police inspector P K Rout said on Wednesday.
Firing incidents have become a regular affair in Sambalpur and adjoining areas, locals have alleged. SP Nikhil kanodia has formed a special squad to curb these incidents, a senior police officer of the district said.
On August 16, two youths were shot at in front of Gangadhar Meher College. It was a fall out of rivalry between two gangs. Earlier on July 21, a firing incident took place near a liquor shop on a highway in Tangarpali area of the town.
