Mumbai:
25-year-old Lalbaug wine shop manager, Ajit Panjwani thought it would be another Tuesday morning until an unidentified man walked into the London Wine store near Bharatmata cinema in Mumbai and fired at him seconds after he asked for a bottle of vodka.
"Before I could get it, the man whose face was covered with a handkerchief, fired three bullets at me," the Ulhasnagar resident told MiD DAY minutes after the attack. Panjwani, who sustained injuries to the back, has been admitted to KEM Hospital. Though Panjwani has bullets lodged in his body, he is out of danger.
Asked if the store had received any extortion calls, Panjwani replied in the negative.
Though the store is equipped with a closed-circuit television camera, the footage is grainy.
Exactly a month ago, on June 13, Rs 1.75 lakh was robbed from the store, prompting its owner to install the camera.
Eyewitnesses said a firecracker-like sound alerted them. "When I went towards the shop, I saw a man slip out and Ajit [Panjwani] was bleeding profusely," said G Ratnakar who works as a technician at a dental clinic next door.
Police head constable who only identified himself as Shendge happened to be nearby. "The man who escaped seemed to be in his mid-30s. He flung the weapon on the road and disappeared. A passing vehicle ran over it, causing it to misfire," he said.
Owner of the wine shop Gulab Kukreja said he did not have any enmity with anyone. "I fail to understand why anyone would target my shop," said Kukreja.
The police said the weapon, a country-made revolver, had a few live rounds in the magazine.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajneesh Seth ruled out the involvement of any gang. "We are working on some vital clues. The probe is still on and we are exploring all possible angles," said Deputy Commissioner of Police S D Baviskar.
A case of attempt to murder and an offence under the Arms Act has been registered at the Bhoiwada police station.
"Before I could get it, the man whose face was covered with a handkerchief, fired three bullets at me," the Ulhasnagar resident told MiD DAY minutes after the attack. Panjwani, who sustained injuries to the back, has been admitted to KEM Hospital. Though Panjwani has bullets lodged in his body, he is out of danger.
Asked if the store had received any extortion calls, Panjwani replied in the negative.
Though the store is equipped with a closed-circuit television camera, the footage is grainy.
Exactly a month ago, on June 13, Rs 1.75 lakh was robbed from the store, prompting its owner to install the camera.
Eyewitnesses said a firecracker-like sound alerted them. "When I went towards the shop, I saw a man slip out and Ajit [Panjwani] was bleeding profusely," said G Ratnakar who works as a technician at a dental clinic next door.
Police head constable who only identified himself as Shendge happened to be nearby. "The man who escaped seemed to be in his mid-30s. He flung the weapon on the road and disappeared. A passing vehicle ran over it, causing it to misfire," he said.
Owner of the wine shop Gulab Kukreja said he did not have any enmity with anyone. "I fail to understand why anyone would target my shop," said Kukreja.
The police said the weapon, a country-made revolver, had a few live rounds in the magazine.
Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajneesh Seth ruled out the involvement of any gang. "We are working on some vital clues. The probe is still on and we are exploring all possible angles," said Deputy Commissioner of Police S D Baviskar.
A case of attempt to murder and an offence under the Arms Act has been registered at the Bhoiwada police station.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
