1 shot, 2 injured as petty dispute over phone chat turns ugly

A petty dispute between two childhood friends chatting via BlackBerry Messenger proved fatal, after one shot the other in the abdomen on Thursday night. Two others accompanying the shooting victim were also seriously injured in the incident. All three have been admitted in D Y Patil Hospital and Daljit Singh, who sustained the gunshot wound, is stated to be in a critical condition.u00a0

Friend-turned-foe: Salauddin shot (below) Daljit in the stomach and then attacked his friends with a rod. Representation pic

The incident happened in front of White House building, Sector 17, Nerul at around 11 pm and according to the police, Daljit and Salauddin Shaikh were chatting on BBM in the evening. The chat turned ugly and the friends ended up abusing each other.

Daljit later went to Salauddin's residence at White House Building along with two friends, Vihang Rawal and Vishal Gandhi. Upon reaching the spot, Daljit was met by Salauddin and his elder brother Gassuddin alias Pappu Bhai, and five others armed with a revolver, baseball bat and rod. In the fight that ensued, Salauddin shot Daljit in the stomach and then attacked his two friends with a rod.

The police are yet to register Daljit's statement as he is in an unconscious state. Inspector Laxman Kale of Nerul police station said, "The victim and the accused had used foul language against each other on BBM and challenged each other to a fight, following which the incident took place. We are still not sure about the cause of the fight."

Daljit's elder brother Manjender Singh said that Salauddin and his younger brother were friends since school days and had a petty argument while chatting.

"There was a small argument on some issue and Salauddin used bad language. My brother went to the accused's house to sort out the matter and in return was shot," Manjender said.

Daljit's friend Vihang claims to have had a narrow escape during the fight. He said, "They hit me with rod on my head and also wanted to shoot me, but I managed to flee from the spot. They chased me, but I hid in a garden and ran away when they left."

The police have registered an attempt to murder case against Azaraddin Shaikh (24), Salauddin Shaikh (25), Gassuddin alias Pappu Bhai (45) and four unknown persons. Azaraddin was arrested, produced in Vashi court and remanded in police custody till June 30. The other six accused in the case are absconding.u00a0