A 51-hour long ordeal that begian from the midnight of Wednesday ended on Friday evening in Bakshi Ka Talao in Lucknow, as police took control of the mentally deranged youth Shameem who was firing from inside a room throughout Thursday and Friday.
As sharpshooters of Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) took up positions around the building since Thursday morning, the youth, a brilliant student and son of a doctor, holed himself inside a first floor room and began firing from his father's licensed gun.
The youth, Shameem set fire to his room on Friday morning and the Fire Brigade had to be called in to douse the flames. In the afternoon, a team of doctors came and anaesthetic gas was pured inside the room to disable the boy. The Youth was taken away by police to Lucknow Civil Hospital under tight security.
Triggering panic,the mentally unstable youth on Friday set afire the room in which he kept himself locked for over 30 hours, a day after he opened intermittent fire at the police, injuring a Station House Officer.
"On noticing smoke we realised that Shameem Ahmed has set fire to the room, which he had bolted from inside yesterday morning," police said. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the flame.
Shameem, the son of a doctor, had locked himself up in a room in his Indaura village residence in Bakshi ka Talab area of Lucknow in the wee hours yesterday, and kept firing indiscriminately at the police, who had cordoned off the area.
Heavy police force, including PAC commandos, have been deployed to control the youth, who did not allow anyone to come near the room," they said.
The boy, a B.Ed student, has fired at least 20 rounds from a licenced gun of his father.
Two policemen, including Arun Dwivedi Station House Officer of Bakshi ka Talab, were injured in the firing when they attempted to lob tear gas shells at the room.
"We are trying to bring out the boy safely as there is apprehension that he might shoot himself," a senior officer said.
Shameem's father Shabbir Ahmad said his son was suffering from a phobia, which made him believe that people could harm him.
WHO IS SHAMEEM?
Shameem alias Raju is a topper of Shia PG College in B.Sc. He did his M. Sc. from Lucknow Uniersity, scoring third in his batch. Then he passed his NET. Unable to find a job, he joined a B.Ed. course in Ghaziabad. His friend Jitendra Singh Parmar says, Shameem was very polite but he was speaking insanely for the last few days.
While firing from inside his room, when Shameem saw his friend Jitendra, he almost wept and told him 'Save me from my father'. He then resumed firing.
Dr Devashish, a psychiatrist of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital says, Shameem was a victim of scizhophrenia. He is brilliant, but since his sensibilities were hurt, he lost control over his mental faculties, the doctor said.
CHRONOLOGY
The drama unfolded on Wednesday night, as Shameem slept with his father inside a room above the clinic. As Shameem walked around restlessly, his father went downstairs to bring some sleeping pills, and that's when Shameem locked himself up inside. By that time, Shameem had taken the double-bore licensed gun hung on the wall alongwith the 35 cartridges.
As Shameem began firing, the Bakshi Ka Talao police was called in.
Thursday 5 am, Police took up position around the building.
At 7 am, as police tried to give him tea, Shameem fired.
At around 9 am, his friend Jitendra was called in. On hearing him, Shameem wept but against started firing. By that time, senior police officers had issued orders not to fire at Shameem.
Around 3.30 pm as teargas was being thrown inside the room, Shameem fired, injuring a police officer.
Around 4.45 pm PAC commandos took up positions.
Around 6.15 pm, Shameem fired injuring a PAC constable. As dusk descended, Shameem closed the lights inside the room and fired twice.
At 9.34, teargas was thrown inside the room, and as the door was being banged, Shameem fired again.
More teargas was thrown at around 10.30 and 11 pm, there was no sign of movement inside.
Friday 9 am, Shameem sets fire inside room, Fire Brigade called in to douse flames.
10 am Fire Brigade pours water inside room to contain fire.
12.30 pm Webcam inserted into room to observe Shameem's activity.
3 pm Doctors' team reaches spot in an ambulance carrying anaesthetic gas
5.32 pm Police take control of Shameem. Rushed To Lucknow Civil Hospital. 51 hour long ordeal ends.
