Festive celebrations turned into a scene of panic and violence in the capital city on Sunday night after two rounds of blank firing were reported in the Ghatikia area under Bharatpur police limits.
The confrontation, which stemmed from controversial remarks made during a Facebook Live session, left five youths seriously injured.
According to preliminary reports, the conflict was ignited when a youth allegedly made offensive, caste-related remarks in a live video broadcast while discussing an ongoing dispute. As the video went viral across social media platforms, it sparked severe outrage among members of a rival group.
The situation took a dangerous turn later in the evening near a local pandal where crowds had gathered for the Ganesh idol immersion festivities. An armed group from outside the locality arrived at the spot to confront the youth responsible for the video. What began as a heated verbal argument quickly escalated into a violent physical brawl.
In the ensuing chaos, members of the visiting group allegedly fired two rounds in the air to create terror before attacking several youths with weapons. Five individuals sustained serious injuries in the attack and were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital for medical care, where they are currently undergoing treatment.
Upon being alerted, team members from the Bharatpur Police Station rushed to the spot to secure the area and restore order. Officers have cordoned off the scene and initiated a detailed probe. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage from surrounding commercial establishments and residential properties to identify the miscreants and reconstruct the exact sequence of events.
