Pistol-shaped lighter creates flutter in Araku

Visakhapatnam:A cigarette lighter shaped as pistol created a flutter in Araku Valley on Sunday morning. The lighter was noticed by a shopkeeper during a clash and called in the police.

Police said four visitors from Visakhapatnam arrived in the valley in a car and went around for purchase of liquor, eateries and cigarettes. One of them who went to a pan shop to buy cigarettes engaged in a fight with the shopkeeper. The locals tried to pacify both but later beat up the youth.

When the locals twisted both his arms to control him, the shopkeeper saw him taking out what looked like a pistol and called the police. The locals ran away from the spot fearing the man in a drunken state might resort to firing.

Sub-inspector of the Araku Valley police station rushed to the spot and took all the four to the station. The man with the “pistol” told the police that it was just a lighter he had purchased online recently for Rs 900. On inspection, police noticed that the lighter was not working properly.

Police filed a drunken-drive case against the man. He would be produced in the local court on Monday. They were set free. Police said the car they came in would be released only after a court hearing.