DEATH FILE 

Ranchi: The site engineer and accountant of a Karnataka-based construction company were gunned down while an earthmover operator was wounded at the railway siding in Chete, a village under Nagri thana, around 22km from the state capital, on Friday morning.

Police suspect unfulfilled levy demand triggered the shooting.

According to local residents, the incident took place around 8.30am when engineer of SK Construction Vishal Reddy (50) and accountant Prahlad Singh (30) were supervising soil filling work along the railway tracks.

"Six armed men came on three motorbikes, opened indiscriminate fire and sped away. The engineer and the munshi (accountant) took bullets on their heads and chests, and died on the spot. A heavy machine operator took bullets on both arms and aleg. The mayhem lasted a minute or so," said a local resident.

Rural SP Ajit Peter Dungdung said the injured man, Karu (30), had been admitted to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. "Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of either PLFI extremists or a criminal gang. The murders seem to have happened over levy. However, it is too early to given any conclusive statement," the SP said.

On March 11, BJP's Lohardaga district treasurer was shot dead in the same police station area. Probe revealed that he was a victim of mistaken identity in a gang war between Aman Srivastava and Vikas Tiwary groups. Seven persons, including one of the two shooters, has been arrested.

Nagri thana OC Kamal Narayan Singh said there was no connection between the two incidents. "The earlier shooting took place 25km from this spot," he said.

On whether police had any eyewitnesses, OC Singh said they were making efforts to find one. "All the workers engaged for the Hatia-Rourkela railway line work have fled the site since the incident. We are trying," he added.

An FIR has been registered with Nagri police.

What do you think is causing this spurt in gun crimes? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com