Sixty-year-old Suryakant N Tolat, an estate broker and a resident of 302, Jambudweep Apartments, Nanavat, was shot dead around 1.30 pm by a police sub inspector, who went on a shooting spree in the Fort, which houses many government offices. He had Rs 60,000 in his pocket when he was shot dead.

Incidentally, Tolat's wife, Jyotiben, had left for Mumbai this morning to bring her grandson. She has been informed of the incident and is expected to reach by 11 pm, Vinesh Shah, one of Total's neighbours said.

According to Shah, Jyotiben left of Mumbai at 6 am along with his wife. He said he came to know of the incident only at 3 pm. As word spread, area residents flocked to the Civil Hospital, while others assembled in front of Tolat's house.

Naresh Shroff, an old neighbour of Tolat, expressed shock at the incident. ``It is unbelievable. In fact, we met this morning at the temple. Though authorities want us to believe that it was an accidental death, the entire episode seems to be fishy'', he said.

Echoing similar sentiments, social worker Niranjanaben Javeri questioned as to how could the public expect safety and protection from such police staff, which killed the very people it was supposed to protect.

Shroff says once Tolat's body is cremated, they would see to it that his wife gets adequate compensation. According to another resident of Nanavat, Prashidh was working with a financing company and would find it difficult to make ends meet with his meagre salary.

The body will be cremated on Wednesday after Tolat's wife and relatives who live in Mumbai reach here. A mourner said as they were Jains they would cremate the body after sunset.

Meanwhile, in a condolence message, Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has condemned the incident.