Dehradun, April 1 (IANS) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday visited the residence of the retired Army officer who was shot dead by a stray bullet on March 30 and offered condolences to the bereaved family.

Brigadier V.K. Joshi (retd) was shot dead on Monday in the Rajpur area of Dehradun after being hit by a stray bullet during a firing incident.

In a post on X, CM Dhami said: “I visited the residence of retired Brigadier Mukesh Joshi in Dehradun to pay my tributes following his passing. During this time, I met the family members and expressed condolences. Pray to God that the noble soul attains a place at His divine feet and grants the bereaved family the strength to endure this immense sorrow.”

He said that strict action will be taken against the culprits, adding that those who tamper with law and order will not be spared.

“Strict action will be ensured against the culprits involved in this unfortunate incident. The safety of the general public is our top priority. Instructions have been issued to officials to launch Operation Strike in the state and take stringent action against undesirable and riotous elements. There is no place for such elements in the state. Those who tamper with law and order will not be spared under any circumstances,” the Chief Minister added.

According to officials, the incident occurred following an argument between occupants of two vehicles travelling in the area. The situation escalated into a firing exchange. Brigadier Joshi (retd), who was on a morning walk at the time, was caught in the crossfire and suffered critical injuries.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The incident drew criticism from Congress, which accused the BJP-led state government of failing to maintain law and order in the state.

Earlier on March 31, Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, reacted strongly to the killing of Brigadier Joshi (retd), terming the incident a reflection of a “complete collapse” of law and order in Uttarakhand.

“Those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation at the border are now unsafe even in their own cities – ordinary citizens and many communities are forced to live in fear. In BJP rule, only criminals roam fearless and secure,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

“Our Uttarakhand, once known for peace and security, has now shrunk into a shadow of violence, murder, and fear under the BJP’s irresponsible leadership,” he added.

–IANS

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