Property dealer shot dead in Hapur; 4 booked

Meerut: A 35-year-old property dealer was shot dead in the Pilkhuwa area of Hapur district late Monday night, police said.An FIR for murder was registered against four accused on the complaint of victim Atul Tomar’s mother, Madhu Tomar. Atul was a resident of Galand village under Pilkhuwa Kotwali police station limits.As per the complaint, the incident took place around 10.45pm when Atul was returning to his village with his friend, Ashok Kumar, after leaving a fast-food outlet. As their car reached Reliance Road near a gym, another vehicle allegedly overtook and stopped them.Madhu alleged that the accused — Naveen Tomar, Brijmohan, Manjeet and Shripal alias Pappu — were armed with pistols and country-made firearms. They allegedly smashed the side window of Atul’s car and shot him in the chest. She further claimed that several unidentified men arrived on motorcycles, vandalised the vehicle and fled after the attack.Ashok reportedly escaped from the car and witnessed the incident from a distance, while another eyewitness, Anup Tomar, allegedly reached the spot during the attack.Atul was taken to Rama Hospital and later referred to Sarvodaya Hospital in Ghaziabad, where doctors declared him dead.ASP Vineet Bhatnagar said, “An FIR has been registered and raids are underway. CCTV footage, forensic evidence and witness statements are being examined.”