Two individuals were shot, one of them an innocent bystander, in a brazen daylight attack in the Kasba area of Dahod town on Tuesday morning. Police have linked the violence to bitterness over a witness turning hostile in a long-pending criminal trial.
Daylight Attack Near Patni Chowk
The incident occurred around 11 am near Patni Chowk. According to police reports, Irshad Pathan and his brother Aijaz Pathan forcefully entered the shop of Faizan Maulvi. Aijaz Pathan allegedly opened fire using a country-made pistol, striking Maulvi in the leg.
The other victim, Shakil Malik, was an unintended target. He informed the police that he was returning after dropping his child off at school when a bullet hit him in the leg. Both injured men were promptly rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.
Roots in a Seven-Year-Old Clash
Investigating officers revealed that the Pathan brothers and Faizan Maulvi were part of the same group. They were involved in a group clash seven years ago, during which Irshad Pathan was stabbed.
Dahod deputy superintendent of police, Jagdishsinh Bhandari, explained the motive. "That case is being heard in court. The brothers believed Maulvi had struck a compromise with the accused and testified accordingly," he stated. This perceived betrayal as a hostile witness is said to have triggered the attack.
Police Response and Evidence Gathering
A large team of policemen rushed to the area immediately after the shooting. They cordoned off the site to collect forensic evidence. Empty cartridges were recovered from the location.
There was a discrepancy in the number of shots fired. While Maulvi claimed the brothers fired five shots at him, police sources said CCTV footage from the area showed four shots being fired.
By Tuesday evening, the police managed to apprehend Irshad Pathan. However, his brother Aijaz Pathan, the alleged shooter, remains at large. A search operation is underway to locate and arrest him.
