In a daring act, a motorcycle-borne youth suspected to be a SIMI activist today shot dead three persons including an Anti Terror Squad constable in broad daylight.
The incident occurred in the communally-sensitive town this afternoon when an unidentified motorcycle-borne youth first shot at ATS constable Sitaram Batham (32) in the Teen Pulia area, City Superintendent of Police (CSP) S K Nashine said.
Batham was shot in the chest following which he suffered critical injuries and later died in the hospital, the CSP said.
The assailant then possibly left his motorcycle there and ran towards Ganeshtalai area where he shot dead an advocate standing in front of his house, he said, adding later he crossed the railway track to reach Anand Nagar and snatched the motorcycle of a bank official, Ravishankar Pare, and later also shot him.
The suspected SIMI activist then ran towards Sinhada and disappeared.
While Pal and Pare died on the spot, Batham succumbed to his injuries in the district hospital.
Batham was involved in cracking down the network of SIMI in Khandwa district, which was one of SIMI’s major bases, police said.
Police recovered two bikes from the Teen Pulia area and it was suspected that the one without any number plate belongs to the assailant.
The incident has sent shockwaves in the town which was celebrating the Eid festival and the police force was deployed at the Idgah to make arrangements for the smooth conduct of the prayer.
The assailant had fired 12 rounds and eye witnesses said that he was carrying two revolvers and a sharp-edged long knife. He was wearing a yellow T-shirt and it was suspected that he was a SIMI activist.
Police have launched a massive hunt by sealing the borders of the district in search of the accused.
