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AGRA: Late on Sunday night, two drunk men allegedly shot a kanwariya in the chest, injuring him, after the victim tried to stop the two assailants from dancing to DJ music.

The incident occurred near Pancham ghat of Ganga under Fatehgarh police jurisdiction at around 11:50pm. The two assailants fled after the incident. However, they were later caught in a search operation conducted by SWAT and Fatehgarh police.

The victim, identified as Vijay Kumar, 25, is a resident of Harsinghpur Goa village under Maudarwaza police jurisdiction.

The victim’s brother, Awadesh Kumar, said, “Vijay was shot from a close range while he was on his way to fetch Ganga water to start the yatra along with other yatris.”

He said, “The pilgrims were on their way to Pancham ghat on a tractor which had an on-board DJ system playing loud music based on lord Shiva. Two unknown, inebriated men embarked upon the tractor and started dancing. Since they were drunk, Vijay asked them to get off the vehicle, but the duo refused and engaged in an altercation. They left with a death threat.”

“Later when the group of kanwariyas reached near Ganga, the two men, armed with country-made pistols, waylaid Vijay and shot him. The assailants then fled from the spot. The fellow pilgrims took Vijay to the government hospital where his condition is said to be stable,” added Awadesh Kumar.

Speaking to TOI, Rajesh Pathak, station house officer of Fatehgarh, said, “The two assailants were identified as Atish Kanujiya and Gopal, who were arrested along with two pistols and a motor-bike used in the crime. The two were caught in less than 12 hours with the help of SWAT.”

The duo was booked under IPC section 307 (attempt to murder).

