Kasauli hotel owner who shot at woman officer arrested in Uttar Pradesh

Mathura: The hotel owner who shot a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Vrindavan-Mathura area, Solan Superintendent of Police said.

The man had been missing since Tuesday when he opened fire outside his property killing Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma and injuring one more person. There was a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for any information on him.

Shail Bala was part of a team of civic officers which was tasked by a court with razing illegal structures in 13 hotels and resorts in the town, 60 km from capital Shimla. The administration had found the structures unsafe for tourists.

Read: Woman officer heading demolition drive shot dead by Himachal hotelier

While the officers were approaching the gate of Narayani Guest House at Solan's Dharampur, owner Vijay Singh allegedly fired shots in the air to scare off the labourers.

A bullet hit Shail Bala Sharma, killing her on the spot, a police officer said. A labourer was also hit in the abdomen. A bullet whizzed past another officer of the electricity department.

The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the authorities and the police for failing to ensure safety of the public servants who were doing their job.

Also Read: Woman officer’s death in Kasauli result of non-implementation of laws: SC