Medininagar (Jharkhand), July 27 (IANS) A security guard was shot dead by unidentified assailants at the JMP premises on the Medininagar Bypass Road in Jharkhand’s Palamu district, police said on Monday.
Police suspect the murder, which took place on Sunday night, may be linked to an old rivalry and have launched an investigation.
The deceased has been identified as Vinod Pandey, 50.
The incident triggered panic in the area. Police, after receiving the information, rushed to the spot and sent the body for a post-mortem examination.
According to police, a youth arrived at the JMP premises on a scooter around 11 p.m. on Sunday. Shortly afterwards, he called two associates to the location.
Eyewitnesses said the three men roamed around the premises for some time before taking the security guard towards the main gate, where he was shot at close range.
He died on the spot due to the gunshot injuries, police said, and added that the assailants fled immediately after carrying out the attack.
Police cordoned off the area and began an investigation soon after receiving information about the incident. Forensic evidence is being collected, while CCTV footage from nearby locations is being examined to identify the accused.
Preliminary investigations revealed that a dispute had erupted during a birthday celebration held at the same premises on the night of July 15.
The altercation reportedly involved the premises manager, Sonu Singh, and a group accompanying Kamlesh Mehta, son of Jateshwar Mehta. Police are probing whether the murder was linked to that dispute or stemmed from an older personal enmity.
Officials said all possible angles are being investigated. Raids are being conducted at suspected hideouts to apprehend the accused.
Police are also questioning eyewitnesses and piecing together the sequence of events with the help of technical and forensic evidence.
–IANS
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