Shopkeeper found dead after India-Pakistan match

A shopkeeper was found shot dead in his establishment here after he reportedly stated that the Indian team will lose the Cricket World Cup semi-final match with Pakistan but police on Thursday said they are investigating the reason behind the murder.

Soon after the Indian side completed its innings last night, Vishal Gupta had allegedly stated that India would lose the match at Mohali, which was opposed to by some of the match viewers present at his shop, police sources said.

At around 10.30 pm when the match was over with the defeat of Pakistan, people started celebrating by bursting crackers, they said. After sometime when people noticed Gupta with bullet injuries all over his body, they immediately rushed him to a hospital in Noida where he was declared dead, they said.

Though the police sources said that he was killed by some people who were irked by his statement on the match, SP City JK Sahi, "The reason for his murder is still uncertain." Investigation are on and will reveal the motive behind the killing, Sahi said. A hunt was on to nab the killers, he said.

In another incident, a man identified as Shushil Kumar was allegedly shot at during the World Cup match at Noornagar here and was rushed to a hospital, where he was said to be out of danger, the police said. Police have started investigation in the matter.