A manager of a property developer had a narrow escape when a suspected assailant’s pistol malfunctioned, here on Monday.
The police said a person to the office of Bharati Builders, Developers and Promoters at Bejai-Anegudi Road and asked for its owner, Loknath G. Shetty “to deliver an important letter”.
When the manager of the office, John Fedrick, came out, the person pulled out a gun and pointed at him. As the miscreant tried to cock the piston, the round fell off, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K.V. Jagadish said.
The manager and two woman employees raised alarm and the suspect fled and escaped in a waiting motorcycle. The police have recovered the live bullet at the scene, Mr. Jagadish said.
The police said they were not sure the act was an attempt to kill or to threaten the Mr. Fedrick. The officer said Mr. Shetty had reported to police that he received life threats six months ago. But he had not reported it, Mr. Jagadish said.
The police cordoned off the area around the office till 1 p.m. Police Commissioner R. Hithendra, Superintendent of Police Sharanappa and other police officials had a detailed examination of firm’s employees and Mr. Shetty.
Builders concern The incident comes two weeks after a group of builders raised their concern with Mr. Hithendra about threats they were receiving from underworld operators. Ravindranath, an advocate representing a builder, complained to police about threat from an underworld operative. “I cannot rule out involvement of local persons in such acts. We have made significant progress in tracking operations on underworld elements,” Mr. Hithendra said.
