The high-security Shyamla Hills area, considered the safest zone in the State capital, was rattled by a daring firing incident late Wednesday night. Two masked bike-borne miscreants opened fire at a residence in the Kilol Park locality, situated merely 600 meters away from the Chief Minister’s official residence. The assailants fired one shot directly at the door and another into the air before fleeing the scene. The incident has raised serious questions about law enforcement as it occurred despite prohibitory orders recently issued by the Police Commissioner for this specific area. Violence erupts minutes after police station settlement: Police investigations revealed that the victim, Rajkumar Rajput, had a long-standing dispute with Akash Batham, a resident of the Kotwali area.

 

Both parties were present at the Shyamla Hills Police Station until approximately 10:30 pm on Wednesday, where they reportedly reached a mutual settlement. However, within 10 minutes of Rajkumar reaching his home, the assailants arrived on an unidentified motorcycle, shouted his name, and initiated the attack. Sharda Bai, Rajkumar’s mother, had recently approached the police regarding death threats issued by the accused group. CCTV captures masked gunmen during the assault: Station House Officer Neelam Patwa confirmed that a spent shell was recovered from the crime scene. Surveillance footage from a neighbouring house clearly shows two masked individuals executing the firing and escaping. Consequently, the police have registered a case of attempt to murder against unidentified persons.

 

Primary suspicion is directed toward Akash Batham and his associates, as witnesses reported seeing him scouting the victim’s residence multiple times over the past few days. Criminal background of the victim surfaces in probe: Detailed inquiries into the case have highlighted that Rajkumar Rajput is himself a listed history-sheeter. He reportedly faces approximately 20 criminal cases across various police stations in the city. Authorities are now investigating whether the attack was a result of a deep-seated personal vendetta or a territorial dispute between rival criminal elements. Special teams have been formed to track the suspects based on the recovered digital evidence. Security breach near VVIP zone sparks concern: This marks the second major criminal incident within the vicinity of the Chief Minister’s residence in just 15 days. Previously, on April 10, a robbery was reported against Manoj Verma in the same locality. Ironically, the shooting occurred on the same day Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar had ordered intensified security and implemented prohibitory orders at the Polytechnic and Kilol Park intersections.