Sunil Chadha
Dharamshala: Police in Himachal Pradesh have detained a 17-year-old boy in connection with the fatal shooting of his father, Vineet Kumar, 45, at their residence in Tariyala village, about four kilometres from the Dharamshala police station.
The ki*lling, which took place midday on Monday, has rattled the quiet hillside community.
According to police briefings, officers were alerted around 5:15 p.m. and reached the scene on Dharamshala–Chambi Road within minutes.
Vineet Kumar was found lying in a pool of blood inside one of the rooms of his home, with fatal head injuries consistent with a gunshot wound.
Forensic teams collected physical evidence, including blood-stained clothing, fired pellets, and the suspected murder weapon — a single-barrel gun registered to the deceased.
Investigators say preliminary enquiries suggest the shooting followed a heated argument between the father and son earlier in the day over a domestic matter.
Police believe the teenager returned from a local bath (bowdi) between noon and 1 p.m., then allegedly shot his father once in the head before attempting to clean the verandah and conceal evidence.
The suspect is accused of fleeing the scene with cash, valuables, clothes, and travelling by motorcycle towards Gurdaspur in neighbouring Punjab.
He was traced and detained there within hours by the Kangra police, working in coordination with Punjab counterparts.
The post-mortem examination was conducted at Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda. The body has been handed over to the family for last rites.
Police have emphasised that the accused is a juvenile and all legal procedures under the Juvenile Justice Act are being followed. The motive for the ki*lling remains under investigation.
“This is a sensitive case involving a minor. Our teams have secured the scene, collected vital evidence, and the investigation will proceed in accordance with law,” said a senior police official.
Authorities are expected to release further details once forensic analysis and witness statements are complete.
