A shooting incident involving a group of tourists from Punjab triggered panic in the popular tourist destination of Kasol on Saturday evening, leaving a local resident injured. The incident occurred amid heavy tourist activity in the hill town, which has been witnessing a surge in visitors seeking relief from soaring temperatures in the plains. Police have detained four tourists and launched a search for another suspect who remains absconding.

According to officials, the violence began at around 6 pm at the Green Valley Hotel, where an argument broke out between two groups over an unspecified issue. What initially started as a verbal dispute quickly escalated into a physical altercation. During the confrontation, gunshots were allegedly fired, causing chaos among locals and tourists present in the area.

Police said a local resident sustained a gunshot wound to the leg and collapsed after being struck by a bullet. Witnesses reported that the injured man attempted to move away from the scene as tensions escalated. Visuals circulating from the incident showed local residents carrying the injured man to safety before he was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.

Also Read: IAF Crushes Kasauli Forest Fire With 40,000L Sukhna Lake Water Drop

Investigators further alleged that the accused attempted to continue the assault even after the victim was being taken for treatment. According to preliminary findings, the suspected shooter allegedly reloaded his firearm and tried to fire additional shots but was restrained by individuals accompanying him. The incident heightened fears among bystanders and disrupted normal activity in the tourist hub.

Following the shooting, police teams rushed to the spot and detained four tourists from Punjab for questioning. The detained individuals have been identified as Manpreet Singh, Aman Randhawa, Sukhmandeep Singh, and Karndeep Singh. Authorities said another individual, identified as Taman from Gurdaspur, is currently absconding, and search operations are underway to locate him. Investigators are also attempting to recover the weapon allegedly used in the attack.

A First Information Report (FIR) is being registered under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Arms Act. Police are continuing their investigation to determine the exact motive behind the altercation and the circumstances that led to the firing. The incident has once again drawn attention to law-and-order concerns in Kasol, a town that has frequently witnessed clashes involving visitors and locals amid its growing popularity as a tourist destination.

Also Read: Himachal Pradesh Ranks Second In Drug Trafficking Cases Across India, NCRB Reports