Ex-soldier opens fire to threaten residents, held

A retired Army jawan was arrested for opening two rounds of fire to threaten a group of people following an argument at the apartment over the Ganesh idol immersion.

The licensed pistol of Naga Naga Maheshwara Rao, 38, a former havaldar, has been seized, and he was produced before a court for judicial remand, said the Narsingi police.

Rao, a native of Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, is a resident of Hydershakote in the city and works as a general manager with an automobile store in

Mehdipatnam.

According to the police, the apartment in which Rao stays has an office of Hireach Broadband Pvt Ltd on the ground floor. A Ganesha idol had been installed for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival and some people were making arrangements to immerse it on Thursday night.

At around 9.30 pm, a group of about 40 persons including the representatives of the company, while taking part in the immersion celebrations, went to the terrace and allegedly consumed alcohol while playing loud music.

The residents of the apartment including Rao, who lives in the third floor, objected to the loud music and a heated argument followed. Rao returned to his flat, took his .32 mm pistol to the terrace and opened one round of fire in the air to threaten the partying group, said the police.

“When the partying group went to the cellar to continue their celebrations, he again went there and opened another round of fire,” said Narsingi inspector M. Gangadhar.

“Fortunately, no one suffered injuries in the incident. A case has been registered against Rao under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act. He has a licence for the pistol but misused it,” the inspector said.