Police detain accused in shooting of elderly Muslim man shot dead in UP

A 60-year-old Muslim man from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh was shot dead following a dispute that reportedly escalated during Holi celebrations, police said.

The victim, identified as Aas Mohammad, was a resident of Chadipur village under the Karanda police station limits. He was allegedly shot by 22-year-old Pinkal Pandey after a tense argument between the two families. Pandey, along with several of his associates had been detained for questioning, police said.

Pandey allegedly made comments to Aas Mohammad's sons, which led to an altercation on March 3. After residents intervened, the conflict was eventually resolved.

But during the Holi festivities, the problem reappeared when a disagreement about throwing colours erupted, sparking a fight between the two groups. Those involved were taken to the station by the intervening police, who then released them the next day.

When Aas Mohammad and one of his sons went to give meals to other family members who were employed at a neighbouring brick kiln on Sunday, the situation got out of hand, Maktoob Media reported.

He allegedly made comments to the victim as they passed Pandey's house, which sparked another verbal altercation. As more people gathered at the location, the altercation swiftly got more heated, according to the police. Pandey allegedly ran into his home during the dispute, came back with a rifle, opened fire, and shot Aas Mohammad.

After being taken to a local hospital, Mohammad was pronounced dead by the medical staff. Following the shooting, the accused fled the scene. Muhammad's wife and seven children survive him. Police filed a First Information Report against Pandey and four of his associates at the Karanda police station after receiving a complaint from the victim's family.

Pandey's involvement was discovered during a preliminary investigation, according to Ashok Kumar, Station House Officer of the Karanda police station, and police teams are looking for him. Sonu, the son of Muhammad, claimed that Pandey has a history of provoking family members by making offensive comments, especially directed at his older brother Kaleem's children.

Sonu claimed Pandey often picked fights with the family and that villagers had long been frustrated with his behaviour, adding that similar complaints had been raised earlier.

Police are also looking into the involvement of Pandey's associates, who are listed in the FIR, according to Circle Officer Shekhar Sengar. He added that the rifle allegedly used in the shooting was a licensed weapon registered in the name of Pandey’s father, Arvind Pandey, a businessman.

To prevent further tension, Police said security had been tightened in the village, which has a mixed population, and additional forces had been deployed as the investigation continued.