At least 20 people have been arrested in connection with a violent attack on three youths in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, police said on Sunday. The accused allegedly assaulted the victims with sharp-edged weapons following what authorities believe to be an ongoing dispute between two groups. The incident has raised concerns over rising instances of group violence linked to personal rivalries in the region.

According to police officials, the clash occurred on Saturday near a girls’ school, where an initial confrontation escalated into a serious assault. An eyewitness complaint stated that several men surrounded a youth, leading to a heated argument. The situation quickly deteriorated, culminating in a coordinated attack involving multiple assailants.

The injured have been identified as Harsh (23), a resident of Ward Number 7; Lalit Kishore (23), from Sirmaur district; and Lalit Kumar (26), a resident of Bano village. All three sustained injuries during the assault and were initially taken to a regional hospital for treatment. Due to the severity of his injuries, Lalit Kumar was later referred to Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla, where his condition was reported to be critical.

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Superintendent of Police, Solan, Thirumala Raju SD Verma confirmed that a case has been registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including provisions related to wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, rioting while armed with deadly weapons, and unlawful assembly. He stated that preliminary investigations indicate the violence stemmed from a prior dispute between the groups involved.

In his complaint, Ajay Kumar alleged that his cousin Abhishek had gone to the girls’ school on March 28 to appear for an examination. After finishing the exam, Abhishek was reportedly confronted by a group of youth outside the school and subsequently called Ajay for help. When Ajay arrived with his friends, they allegedly saw Abhishek being forcibly dragged toward an Industrial Training Institute (ITI). Later, while leaving the area, the group was intercepted near Dhobighat Colony by 15 to 20 armed individuals who carried out the attack. His friends Harsh, Lalit Kishore and Lalit Kumar were injured in the attack.

Given the seriousness of the incident, police formed multiple special teams to track down those involved. Using CCTV footage and evidence gathered from the scene, authorities were able to identify and arrest 20 suspects. Efforts are ongoing to recover the weapons used in the assault, and further investigation is underway to determine the full sequence of events and identify any additional accused.

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