Retired Air Force officer shot by unidentified assailants at restaurant in Lucknow shopping complex

LUCKNOW: A retired Indian Air Force officer was critically injured after being shot by unidentified assailants at his restaurant in the Sushant Golf City area of Lucknow on Friday night, police said. The incident occurred around 10:30 pm at Shopping Square-2 complex under the Sushant Golf City police station limits.

The victim, identified as Awadhesh Kumar Pathak (60), a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar, was sitting inside his restaurant along with his wife Mithlesh when two armed men entered the premises and opened fire.

According to police, the first bullet hit Pathak on his shoulder, causing him to collapse on the spot. The assailants immediately fled after the firing, creating panic in the area. Bloodstains were found scattered at the scene when police reached the spot following the information.

Local residents, with the help of the police, rushed the injured officer to a private hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment. Doctors have stated that his condition is stable.

Additional deputy commissioner of police (South), Vasanth Kumar said that teams were deployed immediately after the shooting.

Station house officer Rajiv Ranjan Upadhyay said that forensic examination of the spot is underway and nearby CCTV footage is being scanned to identify the attackers.

The victim’s wife, Mithlesh, has lodged an FIR against unidentified persons, following which a case has been registered and an investigation has been initiated.

Police said all possible angles, including personal enmity and business rivalry, are being examined.

The former IAF officer and his wife ran a food outlet and as per police two men on bike in suspicious circumstances fleeing were spotted near spot of crime.

Police said the bullet hit just above the right cheek of Awadesh Pathak and he is battling for life.

The relatives of the former officer are coming from Kolhapur and his son from abroad.

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