PUNE: A festering rivalry between two members of the Fashion Street Market Association led to one of them opening fire at the other at Mohammad Rafi chowk on MG Road in Pune Camp around 7.30pm on Tuesday.
While the assailant fled amid panic caused by the firing, the victim, Toufiq Shaikh (45), was rushed to the Sassoon General Hospital for treatment of a bullet injury to his stomach.
"Doctors at the hospital told us that Shaikh is out of danger," senior inspector Ashok Kadam of the Cantonment police told TOI.
Kadam said, "From the nature of the injury, we suspect the assailant fired at Shaikh, a resident of Bhimpura in Camp, with an air gun."
Kadam said, We did not find any empty cartridge at the scene of the crime but we will conduct a fresh search at the spot on Wednesday morning. We have identified the assailant and a search is on for him."
Citing preliminary investigation, Kadam said, "There is an internal rivalry among some office-bearers and members of the Fashion Street Market Association. The firing was a result of this as witnesses told us that the victim and assailant had a heated verbal exchange over some issue before the latter opened fire. The incident occurred in a crowded place."
Kadam said, "We have initiated the process of registering an FIR relating to an offence punishable under section 307 (attempt to murder) of the Indian Penal Code against the assailant. We hope to arrest him soon."
