Scribe shot at in Arwal

PATNA: Two days after the sensational murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, another scribe was shot at on Thursday – this time in Bihar’s Arwal district.
Pankaj Mishra (40), journalist of a vernacular daily, was waylaid by two gunmen near Palanwa Pul under Bansi police station in Arwal district when he was returning home after withdrawing Rs 1 lakh from the Mali branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB).The assailants also snatched the money from him.
Arwal SP Dilip Kumar said Mishra was shot at by two of his neighbours – Kundan Kumar and Ambika Kushwaha. “While Kundan has been arrested, Ambika is on the run,” the SP said, adding both the attackers have criminal antecedents.
Arwal sadar SDPO Shailendra Kumar said Mishra, who works with the daily as a stringer, also runs a customer service centre of PNB at his house in Bansi village. A critically injured Mishra is undergoing treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital.
“Hearing Mishra’s screams, villagers reached the spot and chased the two criminals,” the SDPO said, adding police reached the spot soon after getting information and managed to arrest Kundan. “A manhunt has been launched to arrest Ambika,” he added. The duo were earlier arrested after a stolen motorcycle was recovered from their possession. Both of them, however, came out of jail after securing bail in July this year.