Kanpur: A bullion trader was shot dead on Friday night in Banda district. Police arrested the accused shooter within two hours following an encounter in which the accused was injured.The incident occurred in Baberu town under the Baberu police station area of Banda. The victim, 42-year-old jewelery artisan Tej Prakash Soni, a resident of Dul Thok Sarafa Bazar mohalla, was called by his friend Aslam Khan near Kanya Purva Madhyamik Vidyalaya at around 8:30 pm. Tej Prakash arrived there on his bike and the two drank beer together.Police said an argument broke out between them over some matter and escalated, after which Aslam shot Tej Prakash Soni in the chest with a country-made pistol and fled. On receiving information, police rushed Tej Prakash to the medical college, where doctors declared him dead.Following the incident, traders and local residents blocked the road, which remained jammed for approximately one hour. SP Banda Palash Bansal took charge and formed police teams to search for the attacker.Police arrested the attacker in an encounter about two hours after the incident, late at night. The attacker was shot and injured during the encounter. The injured was identified as 55-year-old Aslam, who lived a short distance from the deceased’s house in Baberu town. Both legs of the arrested attacker were hit by police bullets during the encounter, and he was admitted to the district hospital for treatment.The SP said that during the spot inspection, a liquor bottle and some snacks were recovered from the crime scene, and police teams had been deployed for the arrest simultaneously. He further stated that, as per the prima facie findings, both had worked in construction in Mumbai some time ago and were business partners. He said there was a dispute between them over money, and the shooting was carried out over this matter.
