The deteriorating law and order situation in Cuttack, with a broad daylight firing in the heart of the city on Sunday afternoon, has spread panic among citizens ahead of the week-long Dusshera festival beginning in the third week of next month.
Briefing reporters after the incident, city DCP Akhileswar Singh said one Dilip Kumar Sahu, a trader of Malgodown, was allegedly shot dead by one Ajit Jena of the local Peethapur area.
While the motive behind the murder was not ascertained yet, it was believed that Ajit in a fit of rage shot at Dilip when the latter demanded his money which he had lent to Ajit.
While police were yet to apprehend Ajit, preliminary investigations revealedthat he had no criminal antecedents.
“But Ajit had borrowed money from several people and gone underground when the lenders lined up in front of his house demanding to get back their money,” the DCP said, adding that efforts were being made to arrest Ajit.
Family sources said Ajit, after reappearing in the public three days ago, had telephoned Dilip and asked him to come to his house on Sunday and take back his money. When Dilip reached Ajit’s place, a heated argument between the duos ensued.
Ajit suddenly pulled out a gun and fired three rounds at Dilip before escaping from the spot. Dilip was immediately rushed to the SCB Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him “brought dead”.
