SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Dec 6: A property dealer in the coal city, Ajay Paswan, was shot dead at a reception party in Bagula Basti under Saraidhela police station on Monday night.
Ajay Paswan (52) had gone to attend the reception of his friend’s son. As he reached the venue at around 9 pm, a shooter identified as Prahlad alias Matal Hazra shot him in the temple from point-blank range. Ajay fell to the ground. His friend Satendra Hazra and the driver of Ajay Sab immediately took him to the Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) where doctors declared him brought dead.
As per the information, Ajay had a land dispute with another property dealer Jayamangal Hazra. Prahlad and Jagarnath are said to be the henchmen of Jaymangal who is an accused in the Samir Mandal (property dealer) murder case.
Saraidhela police station officer-in-charge Veer Kumar said that an FIR has been lodged against Prahlad, Jagarnath and Jayamangal Hazra. Raids are being conducted at different locations in the city to arrest the accused.
Satendra Hazra, the eye witness, told police that Ajay Paswan, a resident of Veer Kuwar Singh Nagar, reached the reception Pandal at around 9 pm. The shooters, Prahlad and Jagarnath, were also present there. Both were following Ajay in Pandal when Jagarnath directed Prahlad to shoot Ajay. Prahlad reached near Ajay and shot him in the temples with his pistol from point-blank range.
After this, both the shooters fled from the spot. On getting information, the Saraidhela police reached the spot and recovered an empty cartridge. Police are now conducting raids in different locations of coal city to search for the accused. Jayamangal Hazra was also found absconding from his house after the incident.
