Lucknow: A 32-year-old cook in a restaurant was shot at during a clash between two groups near Patrakarpuram crossing in Gomti Nagar on Sunday evening.Around 7 pm, Ankit Rathore was having tea with his associate, Ram Mohan Dixit, a resident of Vinay Khand, when Pranav Shukla, resident of Vinamra Khand, along with Abhay Pratap Singh, Vishnu Swaroop Dwivedi and seven others, reached the spot. An argument between the two groups turned into a fisticuff. Shukla and Dixit sustained injuries in the clash. Gomti Nagar police reached the spot and most of the miscreants fled.As police chased Abhay Pratap Singh and his associates on motorcycles, one of them opened fire and the bullet hit Akhilesh, resident of Barabanki, a cook employed at a restaurant. He was hospitalised and is in a stable condition.Residents and bystanders blocked traffic near Patrakarpuram police outpost in protest. Inspector Brajesh Chandra Tiwari, SHO Gomti Nagar, said CCTV footage from the restaurant and nearby establishments is being examined to identify those involved in the incident.“Police have formed multiple teams to trace and arrest the absconding accused. Exact sequence of events and the motive behind the clash are being investigated,” said ADCP, Amol Murkut.
