Six Arrested in Ranchi Shooting Incident Involving Mistaken Identity and Contract Killers

Ranchi: Six persons, including the son of a govt employee, were arrested by DSP Arvind Kumar on charges of shooting dead a man at Jhakhratand village under the Ratu police station limits in Ranchi on Sunday, police said.The arrested were identified as Kunal Kumar, Lalmohan Prajapati, Babloo Yadav, Shreechand Prajapati, Imroz Ansari, and Vijay Prajapati. Kunal’s father is an employee in the Budmu block education extension office, police added.DIG cum Ranchi SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha said, “Ravi Kumar (48) was shot dead in a case of mistaken identity while the real target, Rajbalabh Gope, sustained injuries in the firing incident.”“Rajballabh had assaulted Kunal’s father and abused his family members a year ago. He had also threatened Kunal when the latter decided to start land dealings,” he added.Kunal hired contract killers Shreechand, Imroz, and Vijay against a payment of Rs 5 lakh. They conducted a surveillance of Pradeep Lohra’s house, which Rajballabh used to visit for drinks.“Shreechand, Imroz, and Vijay arrived at Jhakratand on Sunday evening. Kunal told them that Rajballabh, wearing a white shirt, has gone to Pradeep’s house. The assailants entered Pradeep’s house and started firing at Ravi, mistaking him to be Rajballabh. Rajballabh sustained bullet injuries when he tried to intervene,” the SSP said.Two cases of extortion are registered against Shreechand.Three country-made pistols with magazines, five cartridges, a motorcycle, and a car, and nine mobile phones were seized from the accused, police added.