Trigger-happy city? Eight shootings in six months leave three dead, expose rising gun culture

Lucknow: Eight shooting incidents in six months. Three dead, four injured and a growing sense of unease. From crowded markets and commercial hubs to a school campus and a highway, firearms are increasingly being used to settle disputes in Uttar Pradesh’s capital.The latest incident took place on June 11, when armed miscreants allegedly looted around Rs 5 lakh from a private hospital owner and his associates on the Sitapur highway in Bakshi Ka Talab. Police said the attackers intercepted the victims’ vehicle, opened fire to puncture a tyre, and fled after the robbery. The case is yet to be worked out.On May 27, property dealer Sandeep Singh was shot dead in broad daylight in a busy market under PGI police limits.

CCTV footage showed assailants firing multiple rounds before escaping on a motorcycle. The shooters are still elusive. A day later, businessman Vibhu Shukla was shot and injured in Hazratganj.On May 17, dhaba owner Vijay Yadav in Madiaon was shot dead, allegedly for filming a roadside altercation. On May 11, a youth narrowly escaped after being chased and shot at near Sushant Golf City. A day earlier, BJYM leader Chetan Tiwari was shot in Bazar Khala, with police citing an old rivalry.

The violence has also breached safer zones. On April 2, a school principal was fired upon inside a private school in Rahimabad, while onJan 31, a retired Air Force officer was shot outside a restaurant in Ansal.None of the attacks were random. In most cases, assailants had prior knowledge of the victims’ movements. The strikes were swift, targeted and executed at close range, often with the attackers fleeing within seconds on motorcycles.Police say motives range from property disputes and business rivalries to personal enmities, but the method remains consistent — the use of firearms.A senior Crime Branch officer said, “Most cases are not linked to organised gangs but personal disputes. What is worrying is that firearms are increasingly becoming the first, not the last, option.”Officials attribute the trend partly to the easy availability of illegal weapons.

Country-made pistols, sourced from neighbouring districts, are inexpensive and frequently used for one-off crimes before being discarded.Police have pointed to active illegal arms supply chains operating around the city.Another concern is the audacity of offenders. Most incidents have occurred in crowded public spaces, often in daylight.“With clear targets and quick execution, attackers rely on speed and familiarity with city routes to evade capture,” said a retired police officer.“The shift towards gun-driven violence in everyday disputes is troubling,” said Nitin Mathur, a senior lawyer.