A 48-year-old man, who allegedly attempted to steal articles from private premises at New Hope, East Bank Demerara, was shot in the thigh yesterday afternoon by a licensed firearm holder.

The man, identified only as Mukesh, was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital shortly after the incident. Mukesh was in theatre having the bullet removed from his thigh when Stabroek News visited the hospital after 4 pm yesterday.

Reports are that Mukesh was attempting to steal articles from the New Hope premises when he was discovered by the owner, a licensed firearm holder. The owner reportedly confronted Mukesh and after a short altercation the alleged perpetrator was shot in the thigh. Further details of the incident were not available.

However, police sources reported that the owner of the New Hope property was not taken into custody but the matter is being investigated. Mukesh was admitted to the hospital’s Male Surgical Ward last evening.