Top pharma company exec shot at in Hyderabad

An AK-47 rifle wielding man allegedly tried to abduct Aurobindo Pharma's Director K Nityananda Reddy from his car near a park and opened fire when Reddy and his brother resisted in the posh Banjara Hills on Wednesday morning.

No one was injured in the incident that spread panic in the upscale area. Police said the attacker fled leaving behind his weapon.

"One person tried to kidnap him (Reddy). However, he resisted his attempt. Following this, the person fired in air and also at his car. Three rounds were fired in the process before he fled the scene," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Banjara Hills, Uday Kumar Reddy said.

According to an eyewitness, the unidentified attacker sat in Reddy's car and then threatened him with an AK-47 rifle. However, Reddy's brother, who was sitting in the car's rear seat, tried to resist the attacker's attempt. In the scuffle, the attacker fired some rounds at the car's windshield.

Later, the weapon was seized from the car, police said.

Reddy, who is vice chairman of Aurobindo Pharma, said after finishing his morning walk at KBR Park here, he sat in his car and was about to start it when the attack took place.

"Suddenly this man came and threatened me with the gun. I tried to catch hold of the weapon and also shouted for help and my brother tried to catch him. The person fired some rounds at my car before fleeing," Reddy told reporters after the incident.

Police recovered a few empty shells from the site. Sniffer and tracking dogs were pressed into action to nab the attacker.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahender Reddy, who visited the site, told reporters that the AK-47 rifle belonged to Greyhounds, an elite commando force that combats Naxals, and the weapon had been missing for some time.

A case was earlier registered regarding the missing weapon at Narsingi police station, he said.

The rifle went off apparently during the scuffle between Nityananda Reddy and the attacker.

"It seems there was a scuffle (between Nityananda Reddy and the attacker) and in the process the trigger was pressed and the bullets went off in air and hit the windscreen of the car," the CP said based on preliminary investigation.

"Who did it and how it happened will be known once the probe is over...the motive will come out soon," the police chief said.

A dog squad and a Task Force of the city police have been pressed into service to nab the absconding attacker.

Meanwhile, Nityananda Reddy said the attacker got into his car from the rear side and pointed the weapon at him.

Asked if there was any threat or extortion demand earlier, he replied in negative.

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy visited Nityananda Reddy at his house.

Image: Policemen inspect the car in which the attacker left behind an AK-47 rifle. Photograph: SnapsIndia