By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 30 Mar: A shocking incident of violence in Uttarakhand’s capital early this morning claimed the life of a retired Army brigadier after an alleged dispute over overtaking between two vehicles escalated into firing, raising serious concerns about law and order.
The victim who succumbed to his injuries has been identified as 74 year old Brig Mukesh Joshi (Retd) who was out for morning walk when this incident took his life. The locals however are questioning the police claim that the episode was merely a case of road rage. The incident, which occurred in the Rajpur Police Station area along Johri Road, Malsi, has triggered panic among residents and outrage among locals, particularly as an innocent morning walker lost his life in what the police claim to be a reckless and disproportionate act of violence.
According to police, the incident took place around 6:50 a.m. when information about firing near Johri village was received at the control room, following which senior police officers including SSP, Dehradun, Pramendra Dobal and SP City Pramod Kumar rushed to the spot along with the Rajpur police team. According to the police, the preliminary investigation suggested that an argument broke out between occupants of a Delhi-registered Fortuner car and a Scorpio vehicle over overtaking, which quickly turned violent. It is alleged that those in the Scorpio chased the Fortuner and opened fire to puncture its tyres and force it to stop.
However, during the firing, a bullet struck retired Brigadier Mukesh Joshi, who was on his routine morning walk along the roadside.
The injured brigadier was immediately rushed to hospital by bystanders but succumbed to his injuries during treatment. Born in Almora he was 74 years old. The incident has left the area in a state of fear and grief, with residents questioning how such firing could take place on a public road frequented by morning walkers. The situation further deteriorated when, after the Fortuner lost control and crashed into a tree near a government primary school in Johri village, the accused allegedly assaulted its occupants and damaged the vehicle, leaving two persons injured who were later admitted to hospital. Police claim that the culprits who absconded after the incident in their Scorpio would soon be nabbed as their vehicle has been identified. However, the Police have not shared the details of the Scorpio vehicle or its registration number with the media so far but admitted that it had a Delhi registration number.
Following the incident, the accused fled from the spot, prompting the police to impose a district-wide alert and launch intensive checking of suspicious vehicles. CCTV footage from the scene and nearby areas is being examined to identify and apprehend the accused. The police also claim that the Scorpio vehicle from which the firing was done has been identified after a video of the incident also surfaced, in which rapid gunshots can be heard clearly, while the Scorpio is seen chasing the Fortuner car, both being seen speeding along the narrow road. According to the eye-witnesses, the Scorpio SUV was seen chasing the Fortuner car for quite a distance and at the same time, one of the riders was seen firing with a gun towards the Fortuner. The presence of morning walkers at the time underlines the grave risk posed to innocent residents.
While the police have described the incident as stemming from a road rage triggered by an overtaking dispute, the sequence of events, including the chasing over a considerable distance, repeated firing, and subsequent assault, raises serious doubts over whether the incident can be dismissed as a spontaneous altercation. The apparent intent to chase and incapacitate another vehicle using firearms suggests a level of premeditation or at least extreme recklessness that goes beyond a routine road rage incident, thereby warranting a deeper and more comprehensive investigation into the motives and background of the accused. Sources also claimed that a couple of persons, who were riding the accident hit Fortuner have been held by the Police while none of the accused riding the Scorpio could be traced so far.
Speaking to the media persons, SSP Pramendra Dobal claimed that that police teams have collected statements from the injured and eyewitnesses and termed the incident as extremely unfortunate, assuring that the accused would be arrested soon. However, his visit to the hospital witnessed an outpouring of anger from the victim’s family members, relatives and local residents, who openly criticised the police for alleged inaction and deteriorating law and order in the area. Residents claimed that tenant verification had not been conducted in their locality for nearly a decade and alleged that illegal activities are flourishing in close proximity to police presence without any effective action being taken. They further alleged that people openly consumed intoxicants in nearby forest areas and inside the cars but no raids have been ever conducted.
It may be noted that the victim, Brig Mukesh Joshi (Retd) was a celebrated army official with a distinguished service record. He had also been posted for some time with the PMO and the intelligence agencies. Brig Joshi was 74. He is survived by wife Renu Joshi, son Mohit Joshi, a naval officer, and daughter Roopali, a journalist. Former journo Neena Joshi is also related to Brig Joshi.
The visibly agitated locals questioned the safety of ordinary citizens, pointing out that if a retired army officer could not be protected, then the general public remained highly vulnerable. The SSP was seen listening silently to the grievances without offering any immediate response, further fuelling public dissatisfaction.
The tragic death of Brigadier Mukesh Joshi has cast a pall of gloom over the city and sparked a broader debate on public safety, policing standards and the increasing brazenness of criminals.
In a separate incident earlier this year, on January 11, another retired Army officer lost his life in a road accident in Haryana’s Panchkula. Lieutenant General Kulwant Singh Mann, aged around 85, was hit by an unidentified vehicle while he was out on a morning walk near his residence.
He was taken to the Army’s Command Hospital in Chandimandir but later died due to his injuries. Police had registered a case against the unidentified driver and were examining CCTV footage from nearby areas, as the accident site lacked camera coverage.
According to Brig Joshi’s family the postmortem has been done in Coronation Hospital. The body is in Military Hospital now. Cremation is expected to take place on April 1st, as his son Commander Mohit is on way from Mauritius.
Was the firing case, really an incident of road rage? Locals counter this claim!By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post BureauDehradun, 30 Mar: Some locals from Johri Village where today an indiscriminate firing killed a celebrated retired army officer, have questioned the police claims that today’s chase and firing incident was an outcome over an overtaking dispute or road rage.Speaking exclusively to Garhwal Post on the condition of anonymity, they claimed that the incident is linked to a dispute and fight inside a night club located at Johri village called Gen Z, which was open through the night till the early morning. They claim that the fight between two groups had begun at the club itself, forcing the club owner to down the shutters. They also claimed that the fight had no link to any overtaking rage.The locals further questioned how, in a residential area, a club was open through the night without the police being aware of the fact? They alleged the police claim of road rage behind the firing incident is a cover-up. Sources also claimed that the accident hit vehicle Fortuner belongs to the club owner. While some claim that the fight began over a dispute regarding the club’s bill, others claim that the club owner intervened in the fight between two groups already underway at the club over some other matter.Sources this evening confirmed that, following public anger, the police finally stepped in to seal the club and recommend the cancellation of its licence.
