A daylight shooting in the popular tourist destination of Kasol in Manikaran valley has left the region in shock.
An argument between some visiting tourists and a local youth at Hotel Green Valley escalated into a violent confrontation that included the discharge of a firearm.
According to Kullu SP Madan Lal Kaushal, the altercation began around 6 pm on Saturday. The situation quickly spiralled out of control when the visiting party allegedly produced a pistol and fired at a local youth, striking him in the leg.
As the injured man was being carried away, the accused reportedly attempted to fire again from behind, creating panic in the area.
The police arrived swiftly and took four individuals from Punjab into custody. They are Manpreet Singh (29) from Tarn Taran, Aman Randhawa (22) from Amritsar, Sukhmandeep Singh (17) from Ferozepur and Karandeep Singh (22) from Gurdaspur. A fifth suspect, identified as Taman from Batala, remains at large.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of tourist-related violence and hooliganism in Kullu valley. In a remarkably similar case on May 10, a group of Punjabi tourists reportedly brandished swords and attacked local residents in the Sainj valley after their vehicle struck a pedestrian, injuring two people. On January 13, a group of inebriated Haryana tourists vandalised a roadside dhaba and brutally assaulted its owner near Jarad.
Kullu SP Madan Lal Kaushal stated that a case has been registered under relevant Sections and that all legal aspects of the Kasol firing are being thoroughly investigated. The injured youth is currently receiving medical treatment.
