Dehradun: Dehradun Police have solved the late-night firing incident reported from Om City, revealing that the bullet was fired accidentally while an illegal pistol was being shown inside a rented flat. One man sustained injuries in the incident, while the main accused, Gopal Sharma alias Bhindi, has been arrested.
Police said the accused was apprehended outside Om City after examining CCTV footage and gathering intelligence. During interrogation, Gopal Sharma told investigators that he and the injured man, Hansraj, had known each other for several years and were involved in property dealing together.
According to the accused, Hansraj had invited him to the flat to show him a newly purchased illegal pistol, allegedly bought for ₹65,000. While handling the weapon, the trigger was accidentally pulled, and the bullet struck Hansraj near his nose, leaving him injured.
Following the incident, the accused allegedly threw the pistol into nearby bushes in an attempt to destroy evidence. Acting on his disclosure, police recovered the weapon from the location.
Police officials said Gopal Sharma alias Bhindi has a criminal history, with previous cases of assault and rioting registered against him. Senior Superintendent of Police Premendra Singh Dobal confirmed that the accused has been arrested and further investigation is underway.
Police say false story was fabricated
Investigators said those present at the flat initially tried to mislead police by fabricating a false version of the incident. After taking the injured man to hospital, they allegedly attempted to conceal the actual sequence of events.
Hansraj Saini, a resident of Bhogpur in Haridwar’s Pathri area, had initially lodged a complaint claiming that the pistol accidentally discharged while he was showing it to his companions, including Gopal Sharma and Shubham Agrawal. However, police said the investigation found several inconsistencies in the statement, leading to the arrest of the accused and recovery of the weapon.
Probe underway into source of illegal weapon
Police have also launched an investigation to trace the source of the illegal firearm. Since Hansraj remains hospitalised, investigators plan to question him after his discharge regarding the alleged purchase of the pistol and those involved in the illegal arms supply network.
Officials noted that another recent murder case in Buddhi village on Shimla Bypass also involved an illegal pistol, raising fresh concerns over the growing circulation of unlawful firearms in the region.
Action taken over fake pistol in Mussoorie
In a separate incident, Mussoorie Police took action against a vehicle driver after a passenger was seen waving a fake pistol-shaped gas lighter from a moving vehicle.
During a special checking drive, police intercepted the vehicle on the Tehri Bypass–Mussoorie–Dhanaulti route. The driver, Vicky Garg of Ghaziabad, told police that he was visiting Uttarakhand with his family. Investigation revealed that one of his relatives had waved the gas lighter outside the vehicle, and a passer-by recorded the act on video.
Police seized the fake pistol-shaped lighter and issued a challan against the driver under the Motor Vehicles Act.
