SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 12: Police have arrested a retired army man for firing on villagers in Vastu Vihar Phase-1 colony under Saraidhela police station and seized one pistol, one live bullet and three empty cartridges from his house.
Saraidhela police station officer in charge Kishore Tirkey said that the incident occurred on Friday late evening. The villagers had gone to Vastu Vihar colony to search for the missing cow of Kolakusma area resident Subhash Mandal when the retired army man named Vivekanand Thakur fired on them after an altercation.
Notably Seema Thakur, wife of the retired army man, first informed Saraidhela police station about firing by some outsiders on her house. Villagers also informed the police about firing by Vivek Thakur on them.
“Neighbours of Thakur said that firing was done from his house. When police searched the house of Thakur, one pistol, one live and three empty cartridges were recovered,” said Officer Kishore Tirkey.
The police official said it all started in the evening when Subhash Mandal reportedly had gone to search for his missing cow. Being enquired about the cow by Mandal, Thakur abused and beat up him. In the late evening, the son of Mandal along with his neighbors went to Thakur’s house to protest. Thakur did not open the door and reportedly fired several rounds.
Vivekanand Thakur was posted in Jammu Rashtriya Rifle Battalion and retired in 2012. He was issued a pistol in 2009 in Jammu and did not renew it after January 27, 2018. He is a resident of Nanashan village under the Piro police station of Ara.