Uttarakhand: BJP former MLA arrested for opening fire at MLA’s house, Opp alleges lawlessness

“We were informed through a clip on social media as well as by the local police station that the former MLA had fired at the house of the MLA. We have arrested the former MLA and his aides. We will take strict action against the offenders,” Dobhal said. The SSP told The Indian Express that cross FIRs have been registered after complaints were lodged by both the parties.

“We are probing the matter. No one has the authority to take the law into their hands. There are allegations against both parties and we are looking into those. We are checking if the gun used by the former MLA is licensed,” he said.

In the video, Champion and his aides are seen shooting at the MLA’s house multiple times and hurling abuses. The accused are also seen pelting stones at the house. As he walks away, Champion is seen firing again at the MLA’s house before getting into his car.

While the ruling BJP expressed concern over the incident, the Opposition Congress said the shooting incident at an MLA’s house shows “deteriorating law and order” situation in the state.

BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said no one has the right to take the law into their hands. “These kinds of acts should be stopped. Anyone who creates such an environment should be punished,” he said, referring to the shooting incident.

Congress spokesperson Sheeshpal Singh Bisht said that the region has turned into a battlefield and this shows the lawlessness in the state. “The Congress has consistently pointed out the lack of law and order in Uttarakhand. In Khanpur, the former and current MLAs are openly engaging in verbal abuse, brandishing deadly weapons with their gangs, and threatening each other. Videos of these incidents are being widely circulated on social media, while the police remain mere spectators,” Bisht alleged.

Who is Kunwar Pranav Champion

Kunwar Pranav Champion is not new to controversies. In July 2019, the BJP expelled Champion from the party’s primary membership for six years on grounds of indiscipline. The action was taken after a video, in which the former Khanpur MLA was seen brandishing four guns while dancing, went viral. The BJP had also condemned the language the MLA purportedly used in the video. However, a year later, the BJP revoked the expulsion after Champion gave a written undertaking that he will not indulge in any act of indiscipline in the future.

Prior to that, Pranav was suspended from the BJP in June 2019 over a dispute with another party MLA and a complaint of misbehaviour towards a journalist.

During the Assembly elections, Champion’s wife Kunwarni Devyani was given a BJP ticket from the Khanpur seat, but she lost to Independent candidate Umesh Kumar.

Champion, who was earlier with the Congress, switched to the BJP in 2016, with eight other lawmakers who revolted against then chief minister Harish Rawat.