Udupi: Masked Men Open Fire at Jewellery Store
 
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (PS)
 
Udupi, Aug 19: Two unidentified men opened gunfire at a jewellery store here on Friday August 19 at around 7.30 pm.
 
According to eyewitnesses, they came on a bike and one got down and entered the jewelry shop ‘Airody’ located at North School Cross Road.

Sources said that the store's watchman, Vittal, tried to stop him, but the assailant turned on him and fired a gunshot. Luckily, Vittal bent at the right moment and the bullet just missed him and hit the store's wall.

The man then shot two more rounds of fire into the air and fled. One of the 9 mm bullets hit the compound wall. The police have found the one that was aimed at Vittal.

The duo wore masks on their faces, sources said. The assailant who shot was attired in white shoes, t-shirt and jeans. The two fled in the direction of Manipal, it is said.

Surprisingly, there was no CCTV installed in the store, which has made the police's job tougher.
 
The motive behind the incident is not yet known. Senior police officers rushed to the spot and investigations are on.

Police sources said that the gunmen might have only wanted to threaten and not kill anybody. It is suspected that the culprits might have demanded money from the shop owner, and on being denied, opened fire to threaten him.

No one was injured in the incident.