Himachal police crack Mandi dhaba firing case through ‘third eye’, 2 brothers from UP arrested

Mandi: The police have arrested two accused brothers in connection with a shooting incident that took place in Pulghrat, near Mandi, in Himachal Pradesh. The suspects, identified as Azam (20) and Ajmal (24), are residents of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

During the investigation, the police recovered arms and ammunition from the rented room of the accused. Mandi Superintendent of Police Sakshi Verma confirmed the arrests.

Owner attacked after resisting loot attempt

The crime occurred late Friday night at Royal Lunch Kitchen, a roadside eatery in Pulghrat. According to reports, two bike-borne youths arrived at the dhaba and ordered packed food.

When the owner, Pradeep Guleria, was preparing their order, the duo allegedly attempted to rob him. They refused to pay for the food, took cash from the counter and even tried to steal an LED light installed at the dhaba.

When Pradeep resisted, one of the assailants pulled out a revolver and fired at him. The first bullet hit Pradeep’s hand and the second struck his cheek before the attackers fled towards Sundernagar on their bike.

Accused tracked down through CCTV footage

Following the incident, the Mandi police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of ASP LR Sachin Hiremath. A case has been registered at the Sadar police station and further investigations are underway.

SP Sakshi Verma stated that the accused were tracked down based on CCTV footage and local intelligence. The police are also probing possible links to other criminal activities in the region.

The injured dhaba owner is currently undergoing treatment and his condition is reported to be stable. Authorities have assured strict action against those involved in the crime.

Munish Sood (Mandi)