Lucknow: An altercation over spitting of paan masala turned ugly and snowballed into stone-pelting and firing of several rounds by an army commando in Prayagraj Friday evening, leaving three youths injured.
Commando Jai Shankar Kumar has been arrested over the brawl that unfolded at Chhatang in Jhunsi area of the city. The three youths are in hospital with gunshot wounds but out of danger, police said.
Kumar was held after CCTV footage of the fracas went viral, showing a young man with a rifle in his hand. Police said Kumar is posted in the 12-Para unit at New Jalpaiguri, near Siliguri in Bengal.
Kumar had an argument with the youths over spitting and parking, police said. “Some people gathered there and started beating him up. The army man then took out his rifle and fired a few rounds, following which three persons were injured,” said the Jhunsi SHO.
According to reports, one Tinku Singh, a resident of Amethi, was visiting Prayagraj for a dip in the Sangam with some friends. Once that was done, they went to meet a friend in Chhatnag when they had the run-in with Kumar. The injured are Manish Singh, Amis Singh and Abhijit Singh, all friends of Tinku.
