Two held for killing shopkeeper in Ghaziabad

Two men have been arrested for allegedly killing a shopkeeper here, police said on Friday.

The duo, identified as Bauaa and Abbas, allegedly shot the shopkeeper at his store in Azad Enclave near Khushal Park colony around 10 pm on Thursday, they said.

Superintendent of Police (Rural) Neeraj Kumar Jadaun said the shopkeeper, Barakatullah (42), originally hailing from Bihar, owned a grocery store.

Two men from the same colony reached in front of his shop on Thursday and brandished a country-made pistol, aimed the weapon at the shopkeeper and fired bullet, which pierced his forehead, police said.

When the neighbours and passersby, alerted by the sound of gunshots, gathered at the spot, the duo again wielded the weapon and ran away, they said.

The locals informed the police about the incident and rushed the injured shopkeeper to GTB hospital in Delhi, where he succumbed.

A named FIR under Indian Penal Code section 302 (murder) was lodged against the accused on the basis of the complaint from the son of the shopkeeper.

Both the accused have been arrested and the motive behind the killing is being probed, SP Jadaun said.