Jamshedpur, April 19: A cable operator was shot at Road Number 5 in Bagbera this morning over rivalry in cable line distribution.

According to police sources, 35-year-old Raj Kishore Singh, a cable operator of Bagbera area, was shot at from a close range in his stomach and thigh at about 9 am.

Officers at the Bagbera police station said the victim was having problems with his rival Chotku Singh over the distribution of cable lines. A couple of days ago, some of Chotku?s associates had tried to disconnect the cable lines of Raj?s customers but left the place after a minor clash.

Last night, there was an altercation between Raj and Chotku?s aides after which they threatened him with dire consequences if the connections were not withdrawn.

This morning, three youths, including Chotku, caught hold of Raj in front of his house when he was on his way to Burmamines and attacked him with sticks and rained blows on him.

When Raj tried to free himself from their clutches, Chotku fired at him from a close range.

The first bullet hit his stomach and the second hit his thigh, said police sources.

Raj?s family members immediately rushed him to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) where his condition is stated to be serious.

Doctors attending Raj said his condition is serious . ?The victim has sustained gun shot injuries on his stomach and chances of a post-operative complication cannot be ruled out,? said the doctors.

East Singhbhum superintendent of police Sanjay Anand Lathkar said the attack was the outcome of a business rivalry over distribution of cable lines. He said the local police have lodged a case of attempted murder against Chotku and two persons suspected for their involvement in the attack.

?We are interrogating some suspects and family members of Chotku, as the incident took place outside his house, to find the whereabouts of the other accused. We expect all the accused will be arrested soon,? added Lathkar.

Cable war is not new in the city and has already claimed two lives in the past couple of years.

Two cable operators Michael Maxwell and Mohan Singh lost their lives in the tussle for distribution of cable lines. Maxwell was murdered on August 20, 2003 and Singh on March 19, 2004.