A TV grab of the crime scene

Cuttack, Nov 12: A trader was shot dead and one of his employees was injured in an indiscriminate firing by unidentified criminals at Malgodown, the largest market of essential commodities in the state, here this evening.

The deceased, identified as Mohammed Farook Tayab, 46, a wholesale dealer of pulses, was attacked when he was at his shop. His employee, Babaji Behera, who was trying to escape, was injured in the firing.

Sources said three motorcycle-borne criminals entered the shop in a flash and fired around eight to ten rounds of bullets at Farook around 5pm today.

Farook suffered three bullet injuries on the head and chest. He died on the way to the SCB Medical College and Hospital, police said.

The police suspected either business rivalry or extortion to be the motive behind the crime. “We are probing iall the angles,” a senior official said.

“I was sitting opposite to my owner, when three persons brandishing guns entered our shop and asked us to leave the place immediately. Three of us, excluding the trader, were present inside the shop when the incident happened. They immediately opened fire,” said Pravat Mohanty, an employee.

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and seized two live bullets from the shop. “Preliminary investigation reveals that three criminals were involved. It is early to say the exact motive behind the attack,” said deputy commissioner of police Sanjeev Arora.

Arora said the employee had suffered injuries while trying to run away from the spot.

Criticising the absence of adequate security measures, the traders observed a shutdown in protest of the killing.

The local traders alleged that despite being the main commercial hub, the police had failed to provide adequate security to them. Last night, criminals had also robbed a trader of Rs 3 lakh at Chatrabazar.

The incident occurred near Matrubhawan around 11pm, when the trader, Pramod Chatoi, was returning home on his motorcycle. Two criminals robbed him of the cash and two-wheeler by throwing chilli powder at the trader.

A case has been lodged at Malgodown police station but the cops remain clueless about the criminals involved in the robbery.

“Today’s incident has raised questions about the ability of the police to provide security to traders at Malgodown,” said the joint secretary of the Cuttack Chamber of Commerce, Srikant Sahu.

The traders’ community has also demanded urgent measures to nab the culprits involved in the murder and threatened to launch an indefinite strike.

“We have convened a meeting and a delegation will meet senior district administration officials and the police for giving adequate security measures at Malgodown,” Sahu said.

A trader at the business facility said that earlier armed police had been deployed at various entry and exit routes to the wholesale market, which has a direct link to vital destinations, including a national highway.

However, it’s two years that the cops have been removed and patrol facility is all that the wholesale market gets in the name of security.