YOUTH DEAD, VILLAGER INJURED AS SUV BORNE ASSAILANTS OPEN FIRE

PRAYAGRAJ: A youth was shot dead by unidentified SUV borne miscreants on Prayagraj-Lucknow Highway near Palan village under Nawabganj police station late Sunday night.

A villager was also injured in the firing after which Prayagraj and Pratapgarh police launched a joint search operation to arrest the miscreants though they have been unsuccessful so far.

Police said Sachin Kumar Mishra 20, resident of Peera Nagar in Kunda area of Pratapgarh, and his friend were targeted while returning on a motorcycle from a wedding at Baraipur Ramnagar village in Nawabganj area of Prayagraj.

Some eyewitnesses told the police near Palan village Sachin’s bike was hit by a car. After a brief altercation with Sachin, the assailants opened fire on him. Sachin received multiple injuries and died on the spot while his friend rushed towards Palan village to get help.

Some local residents tried to surround the assailants, but they again opened fire resulting in injuries to one villager who was identified as Hiralal Patel. The injured villager was later admitted to Kunda’s community health centre (CHC) by the police.

Meanwhile, the assailants who had escaped towards Kunda remained untraceable despite a joint drive by Prayagraj and Pratapgarh police to trace them.

Station house officer (SHO) of Kunda police station Rakesh Bharti said body of the youth has been sent for autopsy and further investigations by Nawabganj police were on.