Sonipat: A 28-year-old assistant manager at a clothing showroom was allegedly shot dead following a road rage altercation with occupants of a car on the Jammu-Katra Expressway in Sonipat district during the early hours of Wednesday. The victim, identified as Prahlad, was originally from Raiguru Nagar in Punjab’s Ludhiana district and was residing in Tilak Nagar, Rohtak.Prahlad was employed as an assistant manager at the clothing showroom in Rohtak. On Tuesday, he travelled to Kaithal with his colleague Karamveer, to attend the inauguration of a new showroom. The two were returning to Rohtak by car late at night when the incident occurred. According to the complaint filed by Karamveer, around 2.30 am, a Maruti Suzuki Eco car allegedly rammed their vehicle from behind near the Rukhi toll plaza. Instead of stopping, the driver accelerated and attempted to flee.Prahlad and Karamveer then chased the vehicle and managed to intercept it between Rukhi and Ahulana villages in the Gohana area. The two got out of their car and questioned the occupants about the damage caused by the collision.An argument reportedly broke out between the two sides. During the altercation, the occupants of the car allegedly opened fire at Prahlad. The bullet struck him in the arm, causing him to collapse. The assailants subsequently fled the spot in their vehicle.Following the shooting, Karamveer attended to his injured colleague and rushed him to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak. However, doctors examined Prahlad and declared him dead. At around 5.30 am on Wednesday, Sonipat police control room received information from Rohtak Police about Prahlad’s death at PGIMS. His postmortem examination was conducted at the institute, following which his body was handed over to his family. His last rites were subsequently performed.Police registered an FIR on the basis of Karamveer’s statement. Police are examining the circumstances leading to the confrontation and the subsequent shooting as part of the investigation.ACP Mohana Devender Singh said two police teams had been constituted to investigate the case. Both teams are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the suspects and establish their movements. No arrest has been made so far.“Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim sustained one bullet injury. The exact cause of death will be established after the postmortem report is received,” the ACP said.
