Police book man seen firing pistol during Dalit protests in Gwalior

Police identified the accused as Raja Singh Chauhan, a resident of Thatipur locality in Gwalior.

Published on: Apr 4, 2018, 07:57:02 IST

Hindustan Times, Bhopal/Gwalior | By Shruti Tomar

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A day after visuals of a man firing a pistol during Dalit protests in Madhya Pradesh’s Gwalior city played on television screens and social media, police identified and booked him on charges of attempt to commit culpable homicide.

Police personnel lathi charge a protestor during 'Bharat Bandh' against the alleged 'dilution' of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes act, in Gwalior on April 2, 2018. (PTI Photo)

Police identified the accused as Raja Singh Chauhan, 42, a resident of Thatipur locality in Gwalior. He opened fire in Thatipur on Monday, said police.

Raja was not available for comment, but his younger brother, Sohan Chauhan, said he had fired in self-defence.

“Raja fired from his licensed gun. The other side was indulging in arson and damaging property, and police were nowhere to be seen. What can one do? One has to defend one’s property,” Sohan said on Tuesday. “We are not afraid and neither is anyone hiding from the police. We are only demanding a fair probe,” he added.

Inspector general of police (Intelligence), Makrand Deouskar, said it was not clear so far if Raja belonged to any political party.

Police said Raja’s family has varied business interests and owns several shops in Thatipur.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shruti Tomar
I have spent over a decade chronicling Madhya Pradesh’s political and social landscape, covering politics, investigative journalism, crime, human interest, and government policy, blending sharp insight with ground‑level depth. I have closely tracked three assembly elections, three Lok Sabha elections, leadership transitions in MP while exposing governance lapses, tender irregularities, and flawed policy rollouts. My reports have revealed gaps in the Cheetah project, irregularities in medical education, rigging in recruitment exams, and loopholes in policy implementation. In crime reporting, I have moved beyond FIRs to map systemic patterns — from organised crime networks and gender‑based violence to custodial accountability — balancing urgency with sensitivity. My journalism is defined by a commitment to human interest. I have profiled the marginalised Bancchda community, documented atrocities against tribal groups, and highlighted efforts to preserve their culture through heritage liquor and revival of spiritual practices. I have reported on farmers struggling with failed MSP promises, giving voice to those often reduced to statistics in policy files. Passionate about field reporting, I have reported on rampant sand mining in Chambal and Narmada, pharmaceutical companies supplying medicines under altered names, the dire condition of schools and colleges, the plight of commercial sex workers, and skewed sex ratios in specific districts. Beyond deadlines, and as HT’s state correspondent and assistant editor in Madhya Pradesh, I engage with ministers, farmers, students, and activists, believing the best policy stories begin with a single human voice. A postgraduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, I also hold a diploma in sports journalism.Read More

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