Gunfire attack on Gram Panchayat member in Nelamangala; assailants flee after failed attempt

Bengaluru: Tension gripped Nelamangala taluk on Saturday night after unidentified assailants opened fire at a Gram Panchayat member in Islampura village. The incident has sparked fears of renewed gang rivalry in the region. The firing took place within the jurisdiction of the Nelamangala Rural Police Station, where a case has now been registered.

According to police sources, the victim, identified as Salim, a Gram Panchayat member of Islampura, was standing near his residence and conversing with a few locals when two unidentified men approached him on a bike.

Without warning, one of the assailants reportedly pulled out a firearm and opened fire at Salim. However, the bullet missed the target, grazing his arm instead. Eyewitnesses said that as soon as the shot was fired, panic ensued in the area, and the attackers sped away from the scene.

The sudden shooting has left the local residents shocked and anxious, with many speculating that the attack could be linked to earlier political or personal enmities in the region.

Salim, who sustained an injury to his arm, was immediately rushed to a private hospital in Nelamangala, where he is undergoing treatment. Doctors have confirmed that his condition is stable and that he narrowly escaped a life-threatening injury.

As the news of the attack spread, a large crowd gathered outside the hospital. Police personnel have been deployed to prevent any untoward incident. Senior officers from the Bengaluru Rural district police have visited the scene and initiated an investigation.

Police are now examining CCTV footage from the nearby areas to identify the shooters and the vehicle used in the attack. Preliminary reports suggest that the incident may have been a targeted assault rather than a random act of violence.

The firing has revived fears of old factional clashes in Nelamangala, which has witnessed sporadic incidents of violence in the past related to political and land disputes. The police have assured that strict action will be taken once the culprits are traced.

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