New Delhi, Dec 19 (IANS) A bystander was killed and two other people were injured in a daring daylight robbery attempt by five motorcycle-borne assailants in the crowded Sadar Bazar market Saturday, police said.
The incident took place 10.45 a.m. on Bhadurgarh Road in north Delhi.

Eyewitnesses said the assailants tried to snatch a bag containing money from a businessman who was going to his shop in a cycle rickshaw.

“There were four-five assailants who tried to snatch the bag from the businessman. One of them had covered his face. They opened fire on the businessman when he resisted and tried to raise an alarm,” said Haroof Ansari, an eyewitness.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Delhi) Sagar Preet Hooda said the men failed to take away the bag. The businessmen suffered injuries and has been admitted to a hospital here.

At the time of incident, the narrow bylanes of the market were crowded with people and some even tried to catch the assailants.

Police said the robbers, in order to scare the people and flee from the area, opened fire in the air.

Nilesh Jain, who was standing on the first floor of a nearby building, recieved a bullet in his neck and fell down. Ram Chander, another passerby, was injured by a bullet that hit his leg.

Jain, 44, was rushed to the Ganga Ram Hospital where he succumbed to the injury. Jain, who lived in Saraswati Vihar, ran a brass component business in Ahiran Gali (street) of Sadar Bazar.

Chander and the businessman, whose identity is yet to be revealed, were admitted to the Bara Hindu Rao hospital and they are said to be out of danger.

After the incident, angry traders in the market raised slogans against police.

“Every day, one or the other trader is being targeted and looted in the capital. We will meet the Delhi Police commissioner and request him to tighten security in the markets,” said Praveen Khandelwal, president of a Delhi trader’s association.

On Wednesday, four armed motorcycle-borne assailants had robbed a 62-year-old jeweller of Rs.1.55 crore outside his house at Ashok Vihar in north Delhi.

According to statistics available with Delhi Police, on an average two people become target of bike-borne criminals. Compared to 850 cases last year, 760 cases of snatching by bike-borne assailants have been registered till November.