New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS) Three unidentified men shot a 56-year-old man, critically injuring him, outside his medical store in east Delhi when he was locking up his business for the day, a police official said Wednesday.

The attack occurred Tuesday night when it was raining.

The men came on a motorbike and tried to waylay M.R. Batra at gun point while he, along with his son Bharat, was closing down his store Bharat Medicos in Som Bazar in Jagatpuri area, a senior police official said.

‘Bharat grabbed the man with the gun, who then fired the shot that hit Batra,’ the official said.

Other traders in the area rushed Batra to Deepak Memorial Hospital, from where he was shifted to Max Balaji Hospital.

The ttackers ran aaway, leaving their bike behind.

‘The bullet hit the upper part of the Batra’s head. His condition is still critical,’ Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Asif Mohammad Ali told IANS.

Police later found that the bike was stolen two days ago from the same area.

Paramjit Singh, an eye witness, said: ‘It was raining and I heard the gun shot and Bharat’s call for help. I rushed there and saw Batra in pool of blood. They both (Batra and his son) were about to leave for their home at New Govindpura area in East Delhi.’

Protesting the incident outside the Jagatpuri police station, Som Bazar Trader’s Association president H.K. Veram told IANS that robbery and snatching incidents in the market have increased as there are no policeman posted in the area.