Uttarakhand political showdown: Leaders’ feud spirals into gunfire incident | WATCH

Uttrakhand: The long-standing feud between former BJP MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion from Laksar and Independent MLA Umesh Kumar from Khanpur took a violent turn on Sunday in Roorkee, Uttarakhand. Champion, accompanied by his supporters, attacked Kumar’s office, firing several rounds into the air, according to a report by PTI.

Visual evidence from the scene showed bullet holes in the office’s glass window and visible bullet marks on the walls. Police confirmed the incident after a video of the shooting surfaced on social media. However, the authenticity of the footage could not be independently verified.

Retaliation or Escalation?

Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion claimed the attack was in retaliation for an alleged assault on his mansion by Kumar and his supporters the previous night. Speaking to PTI, Champion said, "When I reacted, I was picked up. It is an injustice. I will fight against it." He made this statement while being transported in a police van from Nehru Colony Police Station in Dehradun.

Champion’s wife, Devyani Singh, defended her husband’s actions, accusing the police of failing to act on their earlier complaint. She claimed that the response was necessary to "protect their honor."

Umesh Kumar’s Reaction

In a similar act of retaliation, Umesh Kumar arrived at Champion’s office with his own group of supporters, creating chaos. A video purportedly showed Kumar verbally abusing Champion while holding a pistol. Police intervened before the situation escalated further.

Police Take Action Against Both Sides

Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Doval stated that both Champion and Kumar have been detained after complaints were filed by both parties. Champion was taken to Ranipur Police Station in Haridwar, while Kumar was sent to Roorkee Police Station.

Doval added that authorities are planning to recommend the cancellation of both leaders’ firearm licenses and reassessment of their security privileges. "The rivalry between the two leaders has been well-known, and they frequently exchange barbs on social media platforms," Doval said.