A 27-year-old wrestler, Mani alias Pehlwan, was shot dead while bursting firecrackers outside his home in Mohalla Mehtabgarh, Kapurthala, Punjab, around 7.30 pm on Monday, November 9. A bullet struck his chest and he collapsed before being taken to Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. His father, Bagga, said Mani had no known dispute or enmity with anyone.
However, police have said their preliminary investigation suggests Mani may not have been the intended target and could have been accidentally hit during firing allegedly aimed at another person. DSP Sheetal Singh said suspects have been identified and multiple police teams are conducting raids to arrest them.
Fatal Diwali Shooting
Mani, the son of Bagga and a resident of Mehtabgarh, was celebrating Diwali outside his house when gunfire broke out in the locality. According to his family, he was bursting firecrackers when some youths arrived and opened fire. At least one bullet struck his chest, causing him to collapse. Family members rushed him to Civil Hospital, Kapurthala, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Police recovered two spent cartridges from the scene, according to reports.
Police Probe Finds Twist
The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, but the police’s preliminary account suggests Mani may have been an unintended victim. DSP Sheetal Singh said the firing appeared to have been directed at another youth and that Mani was allegedly struck by one of the bullets.
The officer also said investigators had not found any known previous dispute between Mani and the suspected attackers. The exact motive and sequence of events are expected to become clearer after the suspects are arrested and questioned.
Suspects Identified
Police registered a case on the basis of the family’s complaint and began investigating the shooting soon after the incident. DSP Singh said suspects had been identified and several teams were conducting raids to apprehend them. Police are also recording statements from family members and examining evidence from the scene.
While some reports have described the incident as arising from a dispute or rivalry between groups, police have not yet conclusively established the motive. The investigation will determine whether Mani was indeed an unintended victim and what led to the firing.
Newlywed Leaves Family
Mani’s death has left his family mourning during what was supposed to be a night of celebration. He had married a woman from Begowal only a few months ago and was the only brother among four sisters, according to reports. A relative, Harjinder Kaur, described the family’s grief following the killing. The incident also triggered panic in the locality, with residents confronted with gunfire in a residential area during Diwali celebrations.
Evidence At Scene
Police recovered two spent cartridges from the spot as investigators began reconstructing the sequence of events. DSP Sheetal Singh said a case had been registered and multiple police teams were conducting raids to arrest the suspects. Police are also recording statements from the family and examining the circumstances surrounding the firing.
The preliminary police theory is that the shooting may have been directed at another person and that Mani was accidentally struck. His father, Bagga, has maintained that Mani had no known dispute or enmity with anyone. Police said the exact motive and sequence of events would become clearer after the suspects are arrested and questioned.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
A festival associated with light, family and togetherness should never become the setting for gun violence. Whether Mani was deliberately targeted or became an unintended victim, his death shows how quickly armed confrontations can turn a local dispute into an irreversible tragedy. The police must establish the sequence of events through evidence, ensure that those responsible face due process and provide clarity to a grieving family.
At the same time, communities must reject violence as a way of settling disputes and work towards safer, more peaceful neighbourhoods. How can communities and authorities work together to prevent disputes from escalating into violence and protect innocent people from becoming unintended victims?
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