- Sunday, February 23, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
NOT conforming to mask-wearing rule almost proved fatal in a bank in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Friday (25) when a guard stationed there allegedly shot a customer for not wearing the face gear in times of the pandemic. The guard, identified as Keshav, was arrested for opening fire at Rajesh Kumar during a brawl inside the bank premises in the city of Bareilly, located around 150 miles northwest of state capital Lucknow.
The condition of the 28-year-old Kumar, who had been admitted to hospital, was stable, according to police. He suffered an injury on the left thigh, just above the knee, the police added. Kumar is an employee with the railways.
Bareilly senior superintendent of police Rohit Singh Sajwan said Keshav was arrested for his and will be sent to judicial custody. He said a case was lodged against the guard under Section 370 (attempt to murder) under the Indian Penal Code.
Guard accused of not allowing customer entry even with mask
Kumar’s wife Priyanka Rathore told reporters that the former had got into an argument with Keshav over not wearing the mask inside the bank premises. She said even after her husband got a mask after the guard stopped him from entering the bank without a mask, he was refused entry. According to her, the guard pushed Kumar and shot at him.
Meanwhile, a video that went viral on social media showed Keshav saying he had accidentally shot at the man. He also accused Kumar of starting the fight, tearing his shirt buttons and threatening to teach him a lesson.
“He (Rajesh) came and started fighting with me. He tore my shirt buttons too. By mistake, the trigger went off as my gun was loaded… He abused me too and said he will teach me a lesson outside the bank,” the guard was seen saying in the video. Kumar was seen in the video lying on the floor of the bank in a pool of blood.
One relative of Kumar though said the guard fired at him deliberately.
