What Led to the Shooting of Two Youths in Hazaribagh?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two youths were shot in Hazaribagh on June 25.
- The attack is linked to a previous extortion demand.
- Victims have been hospitalized, one in critical condition.
- Police are investigating, but no arrests have been made.
- Community unrest is rising due to escalating crime rates.
Hazaribagh, June 25 (NationPress) In a shocking event in Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district, two young men were targeted in a shooting incident in broad daylight on Wednesday within the jurisdiction of the Keredari police station, law enforcement officials confirmed.
The violent act transpired just a week after the victims were reportedly threatened with an extortion demand of Rs 5 lakh.
The injured individuals, known as Phooleshwar Bedia and Baiju Bedia, both hailing from Lurunga village in the Barkagaon block, have been rushed to Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital in Hazaribagh.
Phooleshwar has suffered a bullet wound to the chest and is currently in a serious condition.
As per police reports, the men operate a pig farming business in their village and were on their way back in an auto-rickshaw after picking up leftover food from the BGR Mining Company mess in Barkagaon.
At approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, six armed men on three motorcycles blocked their route and opened fire.
Baiju, the surviving victim, informed authorities that about a week prior, a group of local youths had demanded Rs 5 lakh as part of an extortion scheme. Given their small-scale farming background, they had initially taken this threat lightly, but the attack on Wednesday made it all too real.
After the shooting, local residents quickly transported the injured to the Community Health Centre in Keredari, from where they were later referred to the Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Police from the Keredari station arrived promptly at the scene and initiated an investigation, but no arrests have been reported as of yet.
Just days earlier, gunmen had fired approximately 6 to 7 rounds at a jewelry store in Hazaribagh city.
Additionally, in Jorakat village of Barkagaon block, assailants set ablaze seven vehicles, including a JCB and a truck involved in road construction. Labourers at the site faced violence as well.
Interestingly, the shooting coincided with a day when local merchants had closed their businesses in protest of escalating crime rates in the district.