Hry pilgrim, a BSc student, shot at in Haridwar; shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh

Haridwar: A pilgrim from Haryana was shot at in the chest in Kankhal area of Haridwar on Sunday night following an altercation between his group and another near the Haridwar highway over consumption of liquor. He was shifted to AIIMS Rishikesh in a critical condition. A probe has been launched, police said.

The victim, Ajay Kumar, a BSc student in his 20s, had been part of a campaign to declare the cow as “national animal” and was with his group near Haridwar when the incident happened. Kumar is a resident of Sonipat, Haryana.

According to Kankhal police, a group of four pilgrims had come to Haridwar as part of their pledge to take holy water from the Ganga and campaign for cow’s “national animal” status. They were on the highway near Gurukul Kangri University when a verbal spat broke out with a group of local youths who were consuming alcohol. Suddenly, an accused opened fire and shot Kumar in the chest.

SSI of Kankhal police station Anuj Singh told TOI, “Ajay Kumar is pursuing graduation from Saharanpur and has been referred to AIIMS Rishikesh. His condition remains critical. Main accused Shivraj Singh (20) along with Aditya Kumar (20), Vansh Gupta (25) and Hemant Kumar, (all residents of Jagjeetpur, Kankhal) have been arrested.”

An FIR under BNS section attempt to murder has been registered, police added.