VIJAYAPURA:In a suspected act of revenge, Bhagappa Harijan, a notorious gangster from Hyderabad-Karnataka region was shot at five times by unidentified assailants on Tuesday morning.
The shooting took place just outside the district court in Vijayapura at 10.30am when Harijan arrived in a car with a group of supporters. Police said that Harijan, 42, who was out on bail for the past six months had come to court to attend a murder case in which he is one of the accused.
The shooting incident in the court premises sent shock waves among the public and security personnel deployed at the court. While people ran for cover, the assailants made a quick escape from the parking lot.
Eyewitnesses said the assailants may have come by bike, with one of them waiting at the parking lot. When Harijan and his men were walking on the stretch between the parking area and court gate, the assailants who were hiding behind a tree fired shots at Harijan.
According to doctors at BLDE Hospital in Vijayapura where Harijan is being treated, so far five bullets have been removed from his chest and abdomen. “The condition of Harijan continues to be critical. Retrieving bullet from the chest region was complicated. The next 24 hours are critical. So far no decision has been taken whether the treatment will continue here or he needs to be shifted to some hospital in Maharashtra,” said hospital officials.
Bhagappa Harijan came into limelight after he took over the gang from his relative Chandappa Harijan, who was shot dead in a police encounter in 2000 in Maharashtra.
He is an accused in several criminal cases in Karnataka and Maharashtra, including supari killings and extortion.
The police suspect an old rivalry in the shooting incident and admitted that the court complex was not well-secured. Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Jain said that a special team has been formed to investigate the case.