Mandi shopkeeper assaulted in vicinity of police station, his shop vandalised too by youths

MANDI: Merely 400 metres from the Sadar police station in Mandi city of Himachal Pradesh, a shocking incident of vandalism and violence unfolded late Sunday night. Armed with iron rods, hockey sticks and wooden clubs, a group of miscreants stormed into a tea shop near the city bus stand, assaulted the shopkeeper and left a trail of destruction.
The incident, which occurred around 11.45 pm, has raised serious concerns about law enforcement in one of the busiest areas of the city.

Attack caught on CCTV cameras

The sequence of events began with an argument between two groups of youths near the bus stand. After the altercation, one group moved to a nearby shop for tea. Moments later, the rival group arrived armed and launched a violent attack on the unsuspecting youths.
When the shopkeeper tried to intervene and requested the attackers to leave, they turned their aggression towards him, beating him and other bystanders mercilessly. The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras, providing evidence of the brazen hooliganism.

Police investigation underway

The police have registered a case and begun a search for the accused. One of the youths involved in the brawl has been identified, but several attackers remain at large. DSP Dinesh Kumar said, “The accused are being identified and arrests will be made soon.”
This incident has sparked public outrage and raised questions about police effectiveness in the city. The bus stand area is a busy commercial hub with 24X7 activity, yet the attackers seemed unperturbed by the presence of law enforcement.
Citizens have criticised the lack of deterrence and demanded strict action against the culprits to ensure public safety. Many have expressed concern over the inability of the police to prevent such incidents in an area frequented by patrols and located so close to the police station.