A regional reporter for a Hindi daily was shot dead by bike-borne assailants on the Sitapur-Delhi National Highway in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur on Saturday. Police have initiated a probe into the incident and efforts are underway to nab the accused.
The attack took place on the overbridge near the Hempur railway crossing, which comes in the Imalia Sultanpur police station area.
The victim, identified as 35-year-old Raghvendra Bajpai, was attacked while he was commuting on his motorcycle. Three bullets struck him in the shoulder and chest. After opening fire on Bajpai, the assailants fled the scene on their motorcycle, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sitapur, Praveen Ranjan Singh told news agency PTI.
Police transported Bajpai to a nearby hospital with the assistance of local residents, but he succumbed to his injuries and doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
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Probe On To Locate And Nab Perpetrators
The journalist's family told media outlets that he had recently been receiving threatening phone calls. However, the actual reason behind the attack remains unknown.
ASP Singh said that the police teams have begun collecting evidence and that the district borders have been sealed to apprehend the perpetrators, PTI reported.
"Call details and other legal proceedings are underway," ASP Singh said. He also stated that the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination.
Commenting on the matter, IG Range Lucknow Prashant Kumar said: "... Police teams are investigating the matter. We will reveal the details very soon."
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