HYDERABAD: A man was arrested by Gudimalkapur police after he fired in the air at an exhibition hall on Saturday monring.
Local police said no injuries were reported in the incident. The accused, Mir Haseebuddin, was booked under the Arms Act. The incident occurred at around 7:30 am.
Police said an exhibition was being held at the Kings Palace Function Hall in Gudimalkapur, where several stalls selling perfumes, toys and trinkets were put up for Ramzan. Two stall owners selling toys and perfumes reportedly got into an argument, after which Haseebuddin, who was not connected to the dispute, intervened and pulled out his gun and fired in the air.
“The toy shop owner evinced interest in buying perfume from the perfume seller. The latter informed him that he had closed down his shop as he was open all night for Ramzan. However, the toy shop owner insisted on buying. This snowballed into a heated argument between the two,” assistant commissioner of police (Kulsumpura division) Mohammed Munawar said.
Haseebuddin, who had also set up a stall nearby, intervened in the argument and opened fire in the air. “He fired two rounds using his licensed weapon. He claimed that he felt threatened by the persons who were ha- ving an argument. But we think it is not true. The investigation is on,” the ACP said.
Haseebuddin earlier worked as a sarpanch in Pargi mandal. He is a resident of A.C. Guards area and obtained a gun licence from Nampally police station. It was with this 0.32 pistol that he opened fire. “It was a clear misuse of the weapon, and the firearm was seized from him,” police said.
The incident created panic at the function hall, and took place at a time when all the shop owners were closing their stalls for the day.