Patna, July 24: The state capital’s tryst with incidents of crime seems to continue unabated.

Around 10am, Ram Iqbal Rai (45), a resident of Phulwarisharif, was riding a motorcycle along with his brother, Narsingh Prasad, when three men on another motorcycle shot at him near road number 15 in Gardanibagh area, the police said.

The bullet hit Rai on his back. He was immedi- ately rushed to Patna Medical College and Hosp- ital (PMCH).

The man is said to be in a stable condition at present.

In his statement to Gardanibagh police, Ram, who owns a farmland, accused his younger brother Krishna Rai and two of his other relatives for the attack on him.

“The brothers are entangled in a dispute over a piece of land. Ram is the third among four brothers. The land dispute had resulted in violence within the family earlier too. One of the sons of Krishna Rai had been murdered some years ago owing to the same dispute. The matter is under investigation and his brother is absconding at the moment,” a police offi- cer at Gardanibagh police station said.

Rai was on way on his way to purchase cattle with Narsingh when he was attacked today.

“The man has given a statement that he saw Krishna and two other relatives on another motorcycle. There is still some confusion as to who was riding Ram’s motorcycle. The victim says that he was in front but in that case, the bullet could not have really hit him on the back, as the other brother would have been riding pillion. The police are investigating the matter and things will get clearer soon,” the police official added.

The state capital has been witness to quite a few cases of attacks and even murders in daylight.

Early in the morning on June 4, two men stormed a truck parked on NH-30 to loot the driver but shot him when the latter tried to resist.

Late on June 5 night, an autorickshaw driver was shot by some men who boarded the vehicle in Karmali area under Malsalami police station.

On June 17, jeweller Manoj Kumar Gupta was shot in daylight near Gai Ghat area under Alamganj police station. The five attackers decamped with around 1kg ornaments which Gupta was carrying.

Police sources said it is difficult to curb crimes involving family feud.

“The trend of organised gangs plotting crime incidents has given way to offences triggered by issues of personal enmity. It is difficult for the police to prevent such incidents, as we do not have any prior information. In case of gangs, the police have a network of sources which tips off the police about their activities. However, patrolling has been increased and police personnel have been deployed in all areas to check crime,” a police officer said.