New Delhi, 31 March (H.S.):

Congress leader and former party president Rahul Gandhi has attacked the Uttarakhand government over the killing of a retired brigadier in Dehradun, using the incident to question the state’s law and order situation.

On Tuesday, Gandhi posted on X that the daylight shooting of retired Brigadier V.K. Joshi, who was on a morning walk in Dehradun on Monday morning, shows that the state’s law‑and‑order system has completely collapsed. He alleged that even those who dedicated their lives to defending the nation at the borders now feel unsafe in their own city, and that ordinary citizens and several communities are being forced to live under fear.

Gandhi further accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand of fostering an environment where criminals feel bold and secure. He claimed that Uttarakhand, once known as a peaceful and secure state, is now enveloped by violence, killings, and anxiety.

The incident took place early Monday morning around 6:50 a.m. in Johdi village, under Rajpur police station limits.

According to reports, a dispute erupted between occupants of a Delhi‑registered Fortuner and a Scorpio on Mussoorie Road near Malasi, when the Scorpio driver refused to yield the road. The Scorpio occupants then chased the Fortuner and fired at its tires.

During the exchange of gunfire, a stray bullet struck retired Brigadier V.K. Joshi, who was walking on the road for his morning exercise. He was rushed to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar