In a brazen act of intimidation, unidentified criminals opened fire at the residence of a drilling contractor on the outskirts of Ranchi late Friday night. The assailants fired a total of eight rounds at the house, aiming to instill fear in the residents and extort money from the contractor, identified as Ramesh Prasad.
The Incident and Immediate Aftermath
The shocking event unfolded in Patratoli village, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Nagri police station. According to reports, the miscreants, while making their escape, met with an accident. They fell from their motorcycle and were forced to abandon their vehicle along with two pistols at the scene. The local police acted swiftly and seized the bike and the firearms on Saturday.
A formal case was registered by the Nagri police on Saturday. However, no arrests had been made until Saturday evening. The police are actively pursuing all leads to identify and apprehend the individuals responsible for the attack.
Escalation: Gang Claims Responsibility and Issues Deadly Threat
The situation took a more sinister turn hours after the shooting. A criminal gang, reportedly led by a man named Rahul, claimed responsibility for the attack. The gang escalated their demands by threatening the contractor with even more severe violence unless their extortion demands were met.
In a chilling threat, the gang demanded a staggering sum of Rs 5 crore from Ramesh Prasad. They warned that if the money was not paid, they would use AK-47 rifles and crude bombs in their next assault. This is not the first time Prasad has been targeted; he had received similar threats in the past and had duly reported them to the police.
Police Investigation Underway
Praveen Kumar, the in-charge of Nagri police station, confirmed that a thorough investigation is in progress. "Police are investigating the case," Kumar stated. He further added that CCTV footage from the area is being examined meticulously to identify the criminals involved in the firing and the subsequent extortion threats.
The incident has sent ripples of fear through the local community, highlighting concerns about law and order and the audacity of criminal elements in the region. The police have assured that all possible measures are being taken to ensure the safety of the complainant and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
