Two killed in Mumbai apartment shootout

MUMBAI - A 14-year-old girl was shot dead after being taken hostage by her neighbour following an altercation over repair and renovation in an apartment complex here Thursday morning. The man was gunned down and two policemen injured in an effort to save the girl, police said.

Additional Police Commissioner (West) Amitabh Gupta said 65-year-old retired customs official Harish Madoria went on a shooting spree after a scuffle with his neighbour Ketan Mehta and took the latter’s daughter Himani hostage outside their home in Saujanya Apartments in Bhardawadi in Andheri West.

“They had some argument over some private matter and Madoria is said to have taken Himani hostage,” Gupta told reporters.

Neighbours alerted a police patrol which attempted to rescue the girl.

At this, Madoria opened fire killing the girl and injuring two policemen, Gupta said.

Police retaliated, wounding Madoria who later succumbed to his injuries.

The injured policemen - identified as Uday Patil and Phalke from D.N. Nagar police station - have been taken to a nearby hospital.

According to eyewitnesses, Madoria and Mehta had been at loggerheads for some time over matters related to the housing society.