Drunk reveller fires in Goddess Durga procession

HYDERABAD: A highly drunk security agency owner from Bihar opened fire in the air with his licensed revolver during a procession of Goddess Durga at Bowenpally on Friday night creating panic among the devotees present there. The accused held his .32 revolver in the air and fired three rounds, police said.Sanjay Kumar Pande (40), who owns the Shiva Shakti Security Agency at IDPL, was invited as the chief guest for the immersion procession for donating a good sum for the celebrations. He reached the area around 10 a.m with his .32 revolver. He soon downed about eight pegs of gudumba, country-made liquor, and joined hundreds of processionists dancing to the drum beats.  However, before anyone could even think of what Sanjay Kumar was up to, he took out his revolver and fired three rounds into the air sending the gathering into a panic.Shocked by the sudden development, locals immediately alerted the police who rushed to the spot and nabbed Sanjay Kumar. They seized the weapon and seven rounds of live ammunition from him.Begumpet division assistant commissioner of police B Karunakar Reddy told Express that Sanjay Kumar purchased the .32 revolver from the Indian Ordnance Factory and got the weapon registered in Bihar. After he shifted to the city, he got the weapon re-registered with the Cyberabad police.“He is carrying the weapon legally but he cannot fire from it without any reason,” a police officer said. Bowenpally police registered cases against the accused under the Arms Act.Cyberabad police have been advised to cancel the gun licence of Sanjay Kumar.Meanwhile, the Task Force sleuths said they are keeping a watch on illegal sale of weapons transported from UP and Bihar in the city.  In the latest incident, Sanjay Kumar opened fire in air violating the licensing conditions and it attracts penal provisions under the Indian Arms Act,” said Task Force deputy commissioner Ch Ramchander.