DHARWAD: A local gram panchayat member fired “celebratory” shots from his gun in the presence of District Minister Vinay Kulkarni at programme at Uppinbetageri on Tuesday night. The scared crowd ran helter-skelter on hearing the gunshots, but Kulkarni stood his ground on the stage.
The man, Siddaramu Dandin, was promptly taken into custody and booked under the Arms Act. The incident took place at the inaugural function of a state-level competition for college students at SGV PUC College at Uppinbetageri on Tuesday night. When the function was underway, Dandin started firing bullets in the air around 10.30 pm. Dandin reportedly told police that the firing was for ‘celebrations’ and he had a gun licence.
“It’s a traditional way to celebrate anything,” he reportedly told the police.