MLA’s guards open firing in ‘self defence’ at quarrying lot

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 29

Khanpur Assembly legislator Kunwar Pranav Champion got involved in a firing incident at Bishanpur Kundi village. Villagers alleged the legislator has been eying the quarrying lot, threatening them to keep away from quarrying work as Pranav has stakes in quarrying work here today.

As many as 20 villagers  are reported to be injured. They alleged firing had been done by Champion and his supporters, who arrived in dozen-odd jeeps.

The legislator refuted the allegations of the villagers, saying he has been on target of illegal quarrying mafia who have been flouting quarrying norms and legal conditions at these quarrying lots.

As per Champion, he was on an inspection visit to Bishanpur Kundi and Bhogpur quarrying lots along with security gunmen provided by the state government in the evening.

Kunwar Pranav Champion said he went to the quarrying site to gauge the illegal quarrying being done in the area.

But he found that in veil of villagers, a mob, purportedly quarrying mafia, attacked his entourage.

“In defence, my security guards fired on the assailants, who tried to corner us. Had we not fired, we would not have survived as from all corners, quarrying mafia fired at us,” said Champion.

Villagers sat on an agitation at Rani Majra in protest, demanding arrest of Kunwar Pranav. Rahul, who was injured and was recuperating at a private medical hospital, said Champion was in a red beacon vehicle, while in another similar beacon, there were numerous 

rounds of fire.

SP Dr Surjeet Singh Pawar, when contacted, said as he is investigating the matter at the very site where the firing incident took place and he would be able to say anything clearly after analysing all the aspects.

He denied arrest of any legislator or any villager till filing of the report.

CO Lakshar PS Chauhan and CO Sadar Rajesh Bhatt with a large number of police personnel had cordoned off the area.

Notably, Champion has a controversial past and had become an embarrassment to the Congress government in the state on previous occasions too. He had fired openly at a dinner hosted by Cabinet Minister Harak Singh Rawat in September 2013.

In 2012, he was booked for firing gunshots at a hotel  owner in Roorkee after he was denied a room there.