PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Haldwani
A municipal councillor allegedly shot dead a person late on Sunday night in Haldwani. The victim was taken in an injured condition to the hospital after the incident. However, the doctors declared him dead. The police handed over the body to the family after the post mortem examination on Monday.
According to sources, personal animosity is the reason for the crime. The accused, councillor of ward number 55 Amit Bisht alias Chintu allegedly shot Nitin Lohani, a native of Okhalkanda area. The shooting spiked up anxiety among local residents in the area who are reportedly avoiding venturing outdoors. One of the eye witnesses Kamal Bhandari said that, he and Lohani had gone to the Gaulapar area on Sunday night. Lohani had talked about meeting Bisht while returning, and the duo visited the home of the councillor.
Bhandari claimed that they rang the doorbell after which Bisht came out with a firearm and fired his weapon. The first round hit the ground after which Lohani got scared and tried to run away. The accused councillor allegedly shot at Lohani after which the victim sustained an injury and fell into a drain. Bhandari said that when he approached to help the victim, the accused and others also reached the spot along with weapons.
The injured Lohani tried to escape from the site but succumbed to his injury, the witness claimed. Superintendent of police (City) Manoj Katyal reached the site after the police were informed about the incident. The accused councillor was arrested by the police. The police also recovered the licensed firearm allegedly used by the accused in the crime. The police are investigating the case based on the complaint submitted by the family members of the victim.
