Police officers outside the JRD Tata Sports Complex. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Nov. 7: Denied entry at JRD Tata Sports Complex, a former student of Jamshedpur Public School, fired a shot from his pistol this morning.

A rehearsal for the annual sports of Jamshedpur Public School was going on at JRD Tata Sports Complex when the 22-year-old wanted to go in an meet the principal of the school Lalita Sarin.

The private securityg uards on duty asked him to furnish his identity or invitation card. After a brief altercation, the youth flashed a pistol and fired a shot. Then he ran and fled from the spot in a motorcycle of another youth.

Security guard R.K. Thakur has lodged an FIR against the two youths with Bistupur police station.

According to police, the youth is a resident of Baridih and has a criminal background. He was rusticated from the school some years ago.

“He has a criminal antecedents and his name figures in the records at some of the police stations across the city. We found out where he lives and a brief history about the youth but did not get to know his name,” said B.B. Sinha, the office in charge of Bistupur police station. A search for the youth is on.

“Clad in a track suit, the youth wanted enter the sports complex. As we were asked not to allow any one without an identity or invitation card we asked for it but he threatened us with dire conse- que-nce if he was not allowed to go in. When we did not relent he shot on the ground. As he fled from the spot in the motorbike we could not catch him,” a guard said.

Tata Steel sports department later summoned principal Sarin and discussed the incident.

“We told her to inform the police and also initiate steps to ensure safety and security of the sports complex as well as the students. We have asked her to depute teachers at the main gate and check entry of students,” said a Tata Steel official.

The annual sports event of the school would take place tomorrow at the sports complex.

Sarin could not be contacted for her comments.

The sports department has recently issued identity cards to those who want to enter the sports complex. The initiative was taken to ward of unwarranted entry of people at the complex.