The assailant of RTI activist, Bhupendra Vira, is suspected to have chosen a firearm of .22 calibre, known to make less noise than cartridges of other caliber, so as to have a better chance of escaping from the crime scene i.e. the deceased’s residence in the cramped Razzaq Chawl in Santacruz (east).
Meanwhile, investigation into the case was on Tuesday handed over to Mumbai police crime branch from Vakola police station amid suspicions that hired criminals had been used for the crime.
According to the police, a single, unidentified assailant barged into Vira’s residence and shot him dead when he was in his one room kitchen home watching television on Saturday night. According to the police, Vira’s wife was at the time in the kitchen and unaware as to how and when the assailant struck. Later alerted by a neighbour, she rushed to the victim, who was then taken to a local hospital but did not survive.
The fact that the victim’s family could not hear the round of firing has led the police to ascertain the cause. “The assailant used a .22 calibre firearm, as has been established by ballistic experts. The .22 firearm is known to make minimum noise, especially in comparison to firearms of other calibres like those of .38, .32 or 7.65mm. Besides, the television was on as well, which could have led to only a subdued firing sound,” said a police source.
“The fact that none apparently clearly heard the firing sound could throw in the possibility of a silencer having been used. But in this case, it is suspected that it probably was just the use of a .22 firearm that stifled the noise,” said the source.
According to another police source, the use of .22 calibre firearm has been infrequent in the city. Such a firearm’s accuracy is strong only when fired from a close range, said the source.
The case’s probe has been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch from the Vakola police station to utilise the former’s specialisation in investigating organised crime cases, said the source. The investigators have formed up to six teams which are in search of the absconding shooter and his suspected aides who could number up to five, said the source.
