Sunil Chadha
Una/Bilaspur: A disturbing pattern of criminal violence appears to be seeping into Himachal Pradesh’s politics, especially in districts bordering Punjab.
After former Bilaspur MLA Bumber Thakur was shot at in Bilaspur on Holi this year, death threats have now surfaced against Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Congress MLA Rakesh Kalia in Una, prompting serious concern over the rising criminal influence along the state’s periphery.
Both Bilaspur and Una share porous borders with Punjab, a state notorious for the operations of organised gangs such as those led by Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, responsible for multiple crimes, including the daylight killing of Congress leader and singer Sidhu Moosewala in 2022.
With Himachal now reporting similar patterns — shootings, online threats and potential gang involvement — security agencies are on high alert.
Deputy CM, MLA face death threats over gangster’s arrest
The latest threat emerged from a Facebook thread linked to the recent arrest of gangster Amrish Rana, a notorious figure recently rearrested for alleged involvement in illegal mining after being released from jail.
A Haroli resident, Arun Kumar, filed a police complaint after spotting threatening comments targeting Agnihotri and Kalia.
One user wrote, “Public is once again demanding the sword,” while another ominously added, “Only the Deputy CM and MLA Rakesh Kalia know” why Rana was arrested. The posts were seen as clear threats and a case was registered at the Haroli police station on Thursday (June 19, 2025) night. A cyber investigation is underway to trace the identities and possible criminal affiliations of the individuals involved.
Mukesh Agnihotri, who represents Haroli, and Rakesh Kalia, the newly elected MLA from Gagret, are believed to have supported police action against Rana. Both leaders have previously spoken out against growing illegal activities in Una, a district that has increasingly become vulnerable to cross-border crime due to its proximity to Punjab.
Bumber Thakur attack: Well-planned ambush in Bilaspur
Just months earlier on March 14, former Congress MLA Bumber Thakur was shot at in Bilaspur during Holi celebrations.
Four assailants fired nearly two dozen rounds at him while he was greeting people at his wife’s official residence. Thakur was hit in the leg and his PSO Sanjeev Kumar sustained serious abdominal injuries.
Three suspects have been arrested so far. A viral Instagram video set to a Punjabi song is suspected to feature the two main shooters, reportedly from Ritoli village in Haryana’s Rohtak district.
A Bolero vehicle allegedly used by the assailants was recovered from Mandi, along with a pistol. The police suspect the attack was coordinated with the help of local spotters near the residence, who provided real-time updates on Thakur’s movements.
Cross-border gangs & arms: Growing challenge for Himachal police
The incidents in both Una and Bilaspur suggest a disturbing trend: the influence of criminal networks operating across Punjab and Haryana is extending into Himachal’s political landscape.
Himachal’s proximity to crime-infested regions has made it increasingly susceptible to gang warfare, contract killings and illicit networks using social media to threaten or intimidate public figures.
