Youth Congress leader shot dead in Himachal’s Una; colleagues attack assailants, injure 2

The police have registered a case of murder and invoked sections of the Arms Act against three suspects. According to officials, the assailants fired more than two rounds, and two bullets struck Puri. A forensic team seized two empty bullet shells from the spot.

The accused have been identified as Gurjeet Mann, Parminder Singh, and Purjinder Singh, all residents of Una district. The police said that two of the suspects, Parminder Singh and Mann, also sustained severe injuries after Puri’s colleagues attacked them with sharp-edged weapons in retaliation.

They were first taken to a local government hospital and later referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh, where their condition is stated to be stable.

“The assailants are also workers of the Congress. The exact motive behind the crime is yet to be established. The incident took place in the parking area of Raizada Hotel in Lalsingi village. The hotel belongs to a senior Congress leader,” said a police officer.

“We have obtained CCTV footage from the premises. Preliminary investigation suggests that two separate birthday parties were being held at the hotel last night. The victim, his colleagues, and the assailants came out after attending their respective parties and clashed in the parking lot around 12.15 am,” the officer added.

“We have registered a case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Arms Act against the three suspects. Forensic examination of the crime scene is underway. The investigation is ongoing,” Gaurav Bhardwaj, Station House Officer (SHO), Una (Sadar) Police Station, told The Indian Express.

Puri, a resident of Santokhgarh and engaged in the mining business, is survived by his wife, parents and one younger brother.

A senior Congress leader said, “The victim Ashu Puri was also a former Youth Congress President of Una assembly.”

Sources said the FIR was registered based on the statement of Akash, a colleague of the victim. He told the police that as they reached the parking lot and were about to board their vehicles, the assailants began abusing and intimidating them. A verbal altercation followed, after which the assailants opened fire on Puri, killing him on the spot.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur criticised the state government over the “deteriorating law and order situation” in Himachal Pradesh.

“The gruesome late-night murder of a youth exposes the worsening security environment in the state. In July this year, unknown assailants shot dead a local man, Rakesh alias Gaggi, in broad daylight in Una district. The common citizen is increasingly anxious about their safety,” he said.