Aligarh, 13 April (HS): A gang of

four armed men burst into a residence where a’mundan’ (tonsuring) ritual was

taking place and opened fire, killing one of the guests on the scene, police

said on Sunday. Police identified the dead as Muraari Lal Valmiki, a

40-year-old close relative of the host. He had arrived to attend a celebration

with his wife and children.

According to eyewitnesses, Muraari Lal was waiting at the house’s threshold

when attackers arrived on Saturday night. The assailants yelled insults at him

before shooting numerous rounds and fleeing on motorbikes, leaving the stunned

visitors reeling. Following the incident, an irate mob assembled at the

Bannadevi police station and staged a dharna demanding the suspects’ immediate

arrest.

Some people who were around the

victim at the time of the shooting claimed to have identified the perpetrators.

The victim’s wife filed a FIR in which she accused Himanshu Lodhi and many

others as the perpetrators of the attack.

Circle Officer (CO) Rajiv Diwedi informed the media on Sunday that a special

police squad has been created, and a large search operation has begun to catch

the criminals.

He also stated that certain relatives of the suspected perpetrators have been

detained and questioned as part of the continuing investigation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi