BENGALURU: A 25-year-old man was arrested Saturday morning after allegedly trying to shoot a young woman with an illegal pistol near a college campus in Mallapura, near Nelamangala on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The woman escaped unhurt as the weapon misfired twice, enabling her to alert the police.The incident occurred around 9am, triggering panic in the area and renewing concerns over the easy availability of illegal firearms along the city outskirts.The accused, Shubham Kumar, a Bihar native working as a bike taxi rider and residing in Nelamangala, was in a relationship with the victim, Aparna, a nursing student from Sikkim living in Ejipura, police said. The two had been dating for over a year after meeting on Instagram. Investigators said Shubham had begun suspecting Aparna of being in touch with another man, leading to frequent arguments and emotional distress.Police said the accused illegally procured a pistol loaded with four rounds and asked Aparna to meet him in Nelamangala on the pretext of a discussion. When she arrived in a taxi, he allegedly attempted to fire at her, but the pistol misfired twice. Aparna then dialled 112 to alert the police, who, with help from local residents, apprehended Shubham at the spot and seized the weapon.Investigators added that the accused had allegedly planned to kill the woman and then take his own life, but the attempt failed due to the misfire. A case has been registered at Nelamangala Rural police station under relevant sections of BNS and the Arms Act. Police are also probing how illegal firearms are entering the city and whether an organised network is operating on the outskirts.
