Diwali celebrations turned into tragic bloodshed in Badoli village, situated in the Una district of Himachal Pradesh, when a bitter neighborhood dispute culminated in a horrific vehicular attack. Around 9:30 PM on November 8, a couple lost their lives after being repeatedly struck by a Mahindra Thar, while two other family members sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle also sustained severe head injuries and remains admitted in critical condition at PGI. Taking swift action on the violent clash, police registered cross FIRs under Sections 103(1), 3(5), and 115(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) to investigate the claims made by both sides.
Diwali Night Feud Turns Fatal with Thar Attack
According to the primary complaint submitted to the police by Ajmer Singh, a farmer residing in Badoli village, the incident unfolded while his family was celebrating Diwali outside their home. At approximately 9:30 PM, Ajmer Singh's eldest son Omkar Singh, daughter-in-law Veena Devi, and wife Sushma Devi were bursting firecrackers near their entrance gate. Suddenly, their neighbor Jarnail Singh, also known as Jaila, arrived at the spot in a Mahindra Thar along with his 15-year-old son, Keshav. The complainant alleged that Jarnail Singh and Keshav began shouting threats, declaring that they would not spare anyone and intended to wipe out the entire family that night. Without warning, Jarnail Singh accelerated the Thar vehicle and drove it straight into the family members standing near the gate.
Allegations of Pre-Planned Conspiracy and Repeated vehicular Strikes
Ajmer Singh stated in his report that as the victims panicked and attempted to run for safety, Jarnail Singh and his son deliberately reversed and drove the Thar over them multiple times. Omkar Singh, his wife Veena Devi, and Sushma Devi were knocked down and trapped underneath the heavy vehicle. The complainant highlighted that Jarnail Singh had previously threatened to kill Omkar Singh roughly a month prior to this event. He further alleged that shared ancestral animosity had fueled the attack, framing it as a premeditated conspiracy to murder his family. The injured victims were rushed to the Una district hospital, where medical authorities declared Omkar Singh and Veena Devi brought dead, triggering intense emotional turmoil and chaos inside the emergency ward.
Counter-Complaint Filed by Accused's 15-Year-Old Son
In response to the accusations, the 15-year-old son of the accused, Keshav Thakur, submitted a counter-complaint detailing a different sequence of events. Keshav, a Class 11 student who lives with his parents and two elder sisters, stated that his family shared an old feud with neighbor Omkar Singh and Ajmer Singh's household, resulting in zero communication between them. On Diwali night, while Keshav's family was bursting firecrackers inside their courtyard, Omkar Singh and his relatives allegedly began hurling verbal abuses from outside their gate. Keshav claimed that around 9:30 PM, Ajmer Singh's other son Paramjeet approached their gate wielding a sharp weapon known as a darat (sickle/cleaver), accompanied by Fateh Singh, Anu, Tejasvir Singh, and Omkar Singh.
Sickle Assault, Head Injuries, and Subsequent Vehicular Escalation
In his statement to police, Keshav claimed that Paramjeet struck him on the head with the darat, inflicting an open wound. Concurrently, Omkar Singh allegedly attacked Keshav's father, Jarnail Singh, with a darat, causing severe head trauma. The group also reportedly damaged the exterior lighting near Jarnail Singh's gate. Infuriated by the violent assault and physical injuries, Jarnail Singh started his Thar vehicle. Keshav boarded the SUV alongside his father, after which Jarnail Singh drove the vehicle in rage, striking Omkar Singh, Veena Devi, and Sushma Devi. Following the collision, Keshav's cousin, Sahil Chauhan, assisted them in leaving the spot. They drove the Thar to their commercial shop, parked it there, and took another car to reach the Una hospital for emergency medical attention.
Police Investigation and Current Medical Status
The scene at Una District Hospital remained tense as both factions arrived, with doctors confirming that Omkar Singh and Veena Devi had succumbed to their injuries before arrival. Due to the critical nature of Jarnail Singh's head injuries sustained during the initial altercation, he was transferred to PGI for specialized medical care. Senior Superintendent of Police (SP) Sachin Hiramath confirmed that police forces were deployed immediately to secure the crime scene and control the situation. He stated that investigations under the relevant BNS sections are actively underway, with forensic and investigative teams examining vehicle damage, physical evidence, and eyewitness statements from both families.
