BHOPAL: In a sensational loot bid, three unidentified bikeborne men allegedly fired three shots at a jeweller's driver in Marwari Road area in Old Bhopal on Saturday night and fled after snatching two bags from him.The driver, who received bullet wounds on his shoulder, abdomen and ribs, was rushed to a private hospital in Fatehgarh by locals where his condition is said to be critical.It is learnt the driver was carrying the bags to his employer’s car that was parked nearby. The bags carried only tiffin boxes and had no valuables.The incident led to panic in the densely populated residential-cum-commercial area forcing the traders to close their shops early. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh , minister PC Sharma and party MLA from Bhopal North and minister Arif Aqueel visited spot and later met the injured driver at the hospital. They spoke to the local residents and police officials. Senior police officers including DIG Irshad Wali along with SP (North) Hemant Chauhan and others rushed to the spot and supervised the investigations.Additional SP Manu Vyas told TOI that Abdul Rehman, 32, a resident of Budhwara, works as driver at Agrawal Jewellers’ for the past nine years. The jewellery shop is owned by Jay Mohan Agrawal, a resident of Shyamla Hills.Vyas said Abdul had come on duty around 10 am. As usual, he parked his employer’s car near Unani Shafakhana on Marwadi Road. The spot is around 200 metres away from his shop.ASP said that around 9.30 pm Abdul carrying the bags was walking towards the car while his employer was a few meters behind him. As Abdul reached the car and was unlocking the door, three unidentified accused waylaid him and fired three shots with a pistol. Before the local people around could react, the accused snatched his bags and ran towards their bike parked nearby and fled the spot brandishing pistol.Two eyewitnesses saw the accused while they were fleeing. They said fearing gunshots they hid themselves behind a parked vehicle. As soon as the accused fled, they rushed towards injured Abdul and took him to a private hospital.The eyewitnesses Shubham Lakhera and Mayank Agrawal told TOI, “The accused had parked their bike close to the jeweller’s car and were waiting for Abdul and his employer. They seemed to have conducted a proper recce before committing the crime. As soon as Abdul reached the car and tried to open the door, the accused pounced upon him and shot at him. When Abdul fell down, they snatched the bags and fled on their bike. No one could muster the courage to stop them as they brandished their gun.”DIG Wali directed the cops to collect footage of CCTVs fitted on a radius of 2 km from the spot.

Stay updated with all the Bhopal Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.