Yuvraj, a resident of Beganda village, sustained a gunshot injury to his leg during the incident on Saturday. He was initially taken to the Regional Hospital in Kullu and later shifted to AIIMS-Bilaspur for specialised treatment, where he underwent surgery. According to his father, Jagar Nath, Yuvraj remains under medical supervision and is recovering steadily.
The victim’s family and local residents have called for stronger monitoring of visitors entering the valley. Jagar Nath questioned how the accused managed to carry an allegedly unlicensed firearm despite restrictions imposed during the Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) election period. He said the family met Kullu Superintendent of Police Madan Lal Kaushal and urged the administration to establish a permanent check post at Hathithan near Bhunter to ensure thorough inspections of vehicles travelling towards Kasol and Manikaran.
According to police and local sources, the incident originated from a dispute between the tourists and a taxi driver, Priyanshu Thakur, over overtaking near Manikaran. The tourists allegedly assaulted the driver and threatened him with a pistol. After learning about the altercation, local residents, including Yuvraj, confronted the accused at a hotel in Kasol. During an attempt to snatch the weapon, the pistol reportedly discharged, striking Yuvraj in the leg.
Locals alleged that the tourists appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants. They further claimed that even after Yuvraj was injured and being carried away for safety, one of the accused attempted to fire again, escalating panic among those present.
The police moved swiftly and arrested four accused on the day of the incident. A fifth suspect was apprehended the following day from Bagga village in Punjab’s Amritsar district while allegedly preparing to flee abroad.
On Monday, a delegation of local residents led by former panchayat president Vijender Sharma met the SP and demanded enhanced security arrangements in the Kasol-Manikaran belt. The delegation urged authorities to intensify checks on visitors from outside states and maintain strict surveillance on anti-social elements.
Residents say the incident reflects a worrying trend of tourists brandishing weapons, violating traffic rules and engaging in acts of hooliganism in the otherwise peaceful Kullu valley. Sunil, a resident of Kasol, alleged that some visitors from Punjab often intimidate locals by displaying weapons, tarnishing the image of genuine tourists. Another resident, Dheeraj from Jari, claimed that groups of bikers frequently flout traffic regulations and become aggressive when confronted.
With public outrage mounting, locals have demanded exemplary punishment for the accused and stronger preventive measures to ensure the safety of residents and visitors alike.
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