Dehradun: A retired brigadier general was shot dead after being hit by a stray bullet during a shooting incident stemming from a overtaking dispute between two car occupants on Mussoorie Road on Monday morning, police said.
According to officials, the accident took place around 6.50 am near Malsi, when the occupants of a Delhi-registered Toyota Fortuner and a Mahindra Scorpio N car got into an argument over non-yielding right of way. The dispute escalated, with the Scorpio’s occupants allegedly chasing the Fortuner and opening fire on its tires in an attempt to stop the vehicle.
Superintendent of Police (city) Pramod Kumar said that the deceased, identified as K Joshi (70), a resident of Rajpur, was out for a morning walk when the accident occurred.
He added, “During the shooting, the retired brigadier general, who was on a morning walk on the road, was accidentally hit by a bullet. He was taken to the hospital, but died of his wounds during treatment.”
Police said the Fortuner lost control after the shooting and crashed into a tree near a government primary school in Johri village. Following the incident, the Scorpio’s occupants allegedly assaulted those inside the Fortuner and damaged the vehicle. Two people traveling in the Fortuner were injured and taken to the hospital.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun and other officials rushed to the spot and later visited the hospital to collect details.
“The accused fled the spot after the incident. An intensive area-wide checking operation is being conducted to track them down. CCTV footage from nearby roads is also being examined,” Kumar said.
