A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured when a bullet hit him after his father, a transport firm owner, is said to have opened fire at two of his workers from his licensed weapon and missed the target in Mangaluru on Tuesday evening. The 16-year-old boy, Sudheendra, has been admitted in a private hospital in the city.
According to the police, Rajesh Prabhu, owner of Vaishnavi X’press Cargo Pvt. Ltd., having office at Thumbay Residency near Morgan’s Gate in South Mangaluru, opened fire at the workers from his .32 bore pistol after a heated argument over payment of wages.
Prabhu, accompanied by Sudheendra, rushed to his office from home with the weapon after his wife Shanthala Prabhu informed him over phone that a driver, Chandru, and a cleaner, Ashraff, were abusing her demanding payment of ₹4,000 in wages. Prabhu’s house and office are located close-by.
On reaching the office at around 3.30 p.m., Sudheendra, a class X student, slapped the crew twice or thrice leading to commotion, while Prabhu pulled out the pistol and fired two rounds at the crew. The crew escaped from being hit by the bullets.
Police have barricaded the spot where two empty cartridges of the fire arm were recovered, outside the office of the firm in Morgans Gate in Mangaluru on October 5, 2021.
However, one of the bullets hit Sudheendra above his left eye and went almost seven inches deep, according to Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar.
Mangaluru South Police have registered a case on a complaint filed by Mohan, an accountant with the firm. Investigation is on. Teams from Forensic Science Laboratory are assisting police in the investigation.
The police are verifying CCTV footage from the firm as well as nearby locations.
As it occurred in broad daylight in front of several people, the incident has sent shock waves among the residents of the area.
The police are continuing to question Prabhu, while Sudheendra is in ICU of the hospital.
Operating under brand name Vexpresscargo, Vaishnavi X’press Cargo Pvt. Ltd. provides daily parcel/cargo services, dedicated contract carriage, freight services, packing and movement of goods.
