Contractor opens fire to scare away goons

A civil contractor fired two rounds in the air to scare away a group of men who came to assault him at his house in Rajajinagar on Sunday night.

Tension prevailed in the area surrounding contractor Manoj’s house as loud gunshots were heard followed by a commotion.

Neighbouring residents alerted the police who rushed to the spot and chased away a group of people. They detained Manoj (29), and seized his licensed pistol.

Preliminary police inquiries revealed the firing incident occurred as a result of a drunken brawl between two groups of people near SV Bar and Restaurant on the Vatal Nagaraj Road on Sunday evening.

The two groups in a drunken stupor clashed with each other. One group supporting contractor Manoj attacked the other group members.

Manoj’s brother Jayanth reportedly assaulted Adarsh and Mukesh from the other gang. Subsequently, Adarsh and Mukesh who were were associated with a pro-Kannada organisation sought the support of other members as the news of the assault spread.

Soon, a large number of people gathered before Manoj’s house to confront his gang. Sensing trouble, Manoj opened fire from his licensed pistol to warn the goons.

He told the police that he fired in the air to defend himself and his panicked family members.

Rajajinagar police have taken up three cases and have secured Manoj charging him under various sections of the Arms Act and two to three others in a case of assault and unlawful assembly.

After seizing Manoj’s pistol the police are contemplating a recommendation to cancel his firearm license, a senior police officer said.

The police have also secured Adarsh and Aravind Babu and are verifying their involvement.

“Manoj’s firing in the air was unwarranted as the people gathered near his house were unarmed. So we have taken up a case against him. As Manoj’s brother Jayanth assaulted the other group members near the bar, we have taken up a case of assault.

“As far as the others who gathered near Manoj’s house are concerned, we have taken up a case of unlawful assembly. We have secured two to three men and are verifying their claims,” said N Shashi Kumar, DCP North.