Denied dinner, miscreants open fire at dhaba managers, two hurt
The managers refused to serve food to the accused as they were allegedly in an inebriated state
AMRITSAR: As many as 13 people, including two local National Student Union of India (NSUI) leaders, were involved in a clash at Pritam Dhaba opposite railway station here on Friday night.
The accused opened fire, injuring two managers at the dhaba. As per police, six gun shots were fired. As per the information, around seven men initially visited the dhaba around 10:30 pm.
According to the victims, the accused were allegedly in an inebriated state. “They wanted to sit inside the family hall, but our managers did not allow them saying that families were seated there too. They left after a heated argument with the staff,” said dhaba owner Davinder Singh Lovely.
They returned in two cars, with more men and harassed the staff, said Lovely. “They opened fire hurting our managers Anil Dhawan and Pawan Shukla, before fleeing from the spot,” he said.
Dhawan has suffered two bul- let injuries, in stomach and leg, and Shukla was hit by a bullet on hand.
The police procured CCTV footage from the four cameras installed at the dhaba. Police said that around seven men could be seen in the footage including a local NSUI leader of NSUI which is a student wing of Congress. Sources said that the police named three men Arshdeep Sandhu of Bhikiwind village , Parwinder Singh of Ajnala and Harchand Singh of Khemkaran village, in the first information report (FIR) and booked ten unidentified people.
“Arshdeep was made the president and Parwinder vicepresident of NSUI local wing in one of local educational institute on Friday following which they along with their accomplices went to the dhaba for dinner,’ said additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP) Lakhbir Singh.
“When the accused were denied food, their friends taunted the duo for being of no use following which he along with his accomplices opened fire,” the ADCP said. One of the cars used in the crime belongs to Harchand of Khemkaran. The number of his car was noted by the public following which the accused was identified. Police teams raided at his house but he is absconding.
The victims were rushed to a local government hospital. Anil who was critical was later admitted to a private hospital while Pawan underwent treatment at Guru Nanak Dev hospital in Amritsar. “We have identified a few persons.All the absconding accused will be nabbed soon”, said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Jagmohan Singh. Police said that accused are residing as paying guests in Amritsar. A case was registered under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under Arms Act.