Corporator shot at, critically injured in Narhi

LUCKNOW: A city corporator was shot at and critically injured in a crowded Narhi locality, in Hazratganj, on Sunday morning by a lone assailant.

Atul Yadav alias Bantu, 41, was shot from point blank range when he had gone to attend a funeral near his house. His condition was stated to very serious in KGMU’s trauma centre when last reports came in.

The broad daylight incident created a sensation in the locality and a huge police force was deployed on apprehension of trouble.

“An unidentified assailant walked up to Bantu and shot at him while he and other visitors were busy preparing for the funeral procession,” said senior superintendent of police (SSP) Lucknow Rajesh Pandey.

Pandey said a stampede-like situation arose following the shooting, adding that the assailant took advantage of the situation and disappeared in a narrow and crowded lane of Narhi before people could regain their composure.

“Nearly 50-55 people were present there but, surprisingly, nobody identified the assailant,” he said.

“We realized about the incident when Bantu slumped to the ground after being shot,” said Vinod Kashyap, an associate of Bantu.

He said locals immediately rushed Bantu to the near-by Shyama Prasad Mukherji hospital from where he was referred to the trauma centre.

Bantu’s family members have so far not lodged any FIR in the matter.

Deputy inspector general (DIG), Lucknow Range, DK Chowdhary and district magistrate Rajshekhar rushed to the trauma centre after getting information about the incident. The DIG said a team of crime branch was also deployed to trace the assailant and other persons behind the attack.