Brick kiln owner shot dead in Jharkhand

A brick kiln owner was shot dead by unidentified persons near his kiln in Surubeda village in Chakradharpur sub-division of West Singhbhum district, a police officer said today.
The 48-year-old kiln owner, Gopal Chandra Pradhan was at the site when unidentified persons arrived and fired at him last evening, Sub-Divisional Police Officer (Chakradharpur), Ajay Kerketta said.
Pradhan, who sustained gun shot injuries near his temple, was rushed to a nearby hospital from where he was referred to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) here, the officer said.
However, doctors at TMH declared him brought dead, Kerketta said.
Police investigation had begun and an empty cartridge of 9mm bore was recovered from the spot, he said.

The exact cause of the murder as well as the identity of the killer was yet to be established, he said.
Asked whether the possibility of involvement of ultra oufit in the incident, Kerketta said the police were investigating the case from all possible aspects and would be in position to comment only after completion of the investigation.
Earlier, Kerketta said, a munshi of another brick kiln in the same village had been shot dead allegedly by ultra outfit PLFI activists couple of months ago.