Man shot dead in daylight robbery bid gone haywire

Four motorcycle-borne assailants armed with country-made pistols shot dead a businessman and injured two bystanders after their attempt to rob Rs 50,000 from two traders failed at the Bara Hindu Rao market in north Delhi on Saturday.

Four motorcycle-borne assailants armed with country-made pistols shot dead a businessman and injured two bystanders after their attempt to rob Rs 50,000 from two traders failed at the Bara Hindu Rao market in north Delhi on Saturday.

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The police said the robbery bid near Sadar Bazaar went haywire after bystanders tried to overpower the assailants.

“Seeking to intimidate the bystanders, and to keep them from intervening in their scuffle with the traders, the assailants started firing — first in the air, and then on the ground,” said a police officer.

A stray bullet pierced through the throat of Nilesh Jain, a 40-year-old brass component wholesaler who had stepped out on the balcony of his second-floor shop on hearing the commotion, killing him.

Daily wage labourers Chulhai Rai (32) and Chander Yadav (22) were shot in the thigh and stomach, respectively. They are recuperating in hospital.

The police said the two traders had been on their way to deposit Rs 50,000 in a bank.

“Around 10.30 am, the cycle rickshaw was stopped by two of the assailants, who were on foot and had their faces covered,” said Sagar Preet Hooda, DCP, north district. “The assailants told the traders to hand over their bags.”

The attackers slipped away after everybody’s attention was diverted towards Jain.

They fled on the two motorcycles they had parked in a nearby alley.