Shimla, March 29 Twenty people have been arrested for allegedly injuring three individuals by attacking them with sharp objects in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, with police suspecting that the reason for the attack is an ongoing dispute.
The injured individuals are identified as Harsh (23), a resident of Ward Number 7, Lalit Kishore (23), from Sirmaur district, and Lalit Kumar (26), a resident of Bano village.
According to a complaint filed by a witness, the incident occurred on Saturday when several men surrounded his cousin near a girls' school, leading to an argument.
The complaint told police that he then reached the spot with some friends and rescued his cousin, who was being forcibly taken towards an ITI institute.
He further alleged that when they left the spot and were on their way to Dhobighat Colony, around 15 to 20 men carrying sharp objects stopped them and started assaulting them.
During the scuffle, the three were injured and were then taken to the civil hospital, where they are receiving treatment, police said.
Kumar was transferred to Indira Gandhi Medical College in Shimla for further treatment, they added.
Police examined the spot and formed multiple teams to identify and apprehend the accused. Based on CCTV footage, 20 people were arrested.
Superintendent of Police (SP), Solan, Thirumala Raju, along with SD Verma, said that a case has been registered against the accused under sections 126(2), 115(2), 191(3), and 190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which relate to wrongful restraint, voluntarily causing hurt, rioting with deadly weapons, and unlawful assembly.
Further investigation is underway, he said, adding that preliminary investigation suggests that the clash was a result of an ongoing dispute.