By IANS
Bhopal : Hundreds of people belonging to the Jain community along with a number of journalists staged a road blockade here Wednesday demanding immediate arrest of the culprits who had shot dead a journalist and his driver a day before.
Pawan Jain, editor of evening newspaper Vidrohi Dhara published from the neighbouring Vidisha town, and his driver Sardar Singh were shot dead near the city's posh J.K. Road colony Tuesday night while they were returning in their car from Vidisha.
Police have picked up two brothers, Vineet Godha and Puneet Godha, for interrogation. According to the police, Pawan had a property dispute with the duo.
"The incident took place when Pawan Jain was returning to Bhopal with his brother-in-law Mukesh Jain, friend Rajendra Jain and Sardar Singh, who was also the security guard of the publication," police said.
"The assailants stopped the car and immediately opened fire. Over two dozen rounds were fired and some of the bullets hit Pawan and the driver. Mukesh and Rajendra, who were on the rear seat, however, managed to survive," Additional Superintendent of Police G.K. Pathak said.
Later, Mukesh and Rajendra rushed the victims to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to their injuries.
On Feb 24, Pawan had filed a complaint against the Godha brothers at Kamla Nagar police station here alleging that the duo had attempted to kill him by opening fire on his car.
Madhya Pradesh Working Journalists' Union had then taken up the issue with the director general of police and demanded security for Pawan but to no avail.
Earlier in the day, the members of the Jain community brought Pawan's body from the hospital and put it on the busy Roshanpura crossing, blocking traffic for more than two hours.
The blockade was withdrawn after Bhopal Superintendent of Police A.K. Singh and other police officials assured that action would be taken against the culprits.
Last month, an India Today correspondent was brutally attacked with swords and sticks in the city's upmarket Alkapuri area.