Birgunj: An Indian criminal gang opened fire at proprietor of the Parwanipur-based Progressive Trading Leather Industries, Bijaya Shankar Hada, in Birgunj on Tuesday night. He was shot in front of the Birgunj Sugar Factory while he was returning to Birgunj from Parwanipur. He was rushed to the Dankan Hospital at Raksaul after he sustained a bullet injury in his stomach. He was later taken to Kathmandu in an ambulance after he could not be treated there.

Hada is being treated at TU Teaching Hospital in Maharajgunj, police said.

Sanju Baba, claiming himself a member of the gang of Bihar-based Indian criminal Chhotelal Shani, took responsibility for the incident.

Sanju Baba has been extorting money from Birgunj-based business entrepreneurs by threatening to take their lives, sources said.