Chandigarh, May 31: Unidentified miscreants opened indiscriminate fire on a hotelier’s house in Sector 33. The hotelier is the brother of a liquor contractor. At least 17 bullets were fired on the house of Rakesh Singla, who owns a hotel in Sector 43. However, nobody was injured in the incident.
Investigations revealed that the miscreants had come looking for Rakesh’s brother Arvind, a liquor contractor in Punjab.
The police said four miscreants, who had their faces covered, first arrived outside Rakesh’s house in Sector 33 and enquired from someone about Arvind’s house. Then they went to Arvind’s house, which is situated close by. Since Arvind has been provided with security by the Punjab Police, a cop was deputed outside his house.
The miscreants saw the cop and then drove back to Rakesh’s house. The suspects, who were riding a sedan, then opened indiscriminate fire at the house.
The bullets hit the gate, a Land Rover Discovery, a wall and a window of a room on the first floor.
Rakesh and his mother were present at the house when the miscreants opened fire.
A private security guard was present at the gate. However, the suspects didn’t fire at him. They then escaped from the spot.
The Police Control Room was informed around 6.15 pm, following which police teams rushed to the spot. A forensic team also reached the spot and initiated an investigation.
A total of 17 empty cartridges of 9 mm and 32 bore were recovered from the spot.
SSP Nilambari Jagdale also visited the spot.
Police officials said though Arvind denied having any personal enmity with anyone, they were probing various angles, including business rivalry. The police have also not ruled out an extortion angle.
Arvind, however, said he had not received any extortion call.
The police videographed the crime scene. The footage of CCTV cameras installed outside the house is being scrutinised.
Police officials said it seemed the miscreants wanted to intimidate the victims.
A case of attempt to murder and under the Arms Act has been registered against unknown persons at the Sector 34 police station.
Extortion angle not ruled out: Police
Police officials said though Arvind, a liquor contractor and brother of Rakesh on whose house the bullets were fired, denied having any personal enmity with anyone, they were probing various angles, including business rivalry. The police have also not ruled out an extortion angle.
