Belagavi Police have constituted two special investigation teams to trace the accused involved in the attempted shooting at the Union Gymkhana Club on Tuesday night. Acting under the supervision of senior officers, the teams are conducting searches in Belagavi and the Kolhapur and Chandgad regions of neighbouring Maharashtra while probing the gang’s background, financial links and possible motive behind the attack.
Two FIRs Registered
The Camp Police Station has registered two separate cases in connection with the incident.
The first FIR is based on a complaint filed by Suresh Jalgar, a resident of Jalgar Galli, against Prafull Patil and four to five unidentified persons. The accused have been booked for attempted murder, criminal intimidation and other relevant offences.
The second case was filed by the manager of Union Gymkhana, alleging that the attackers forcibly entered the premises and damaged property during the incident.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to the police complaint, the assailants entered the Union Gymkhana on Tuesday night and repeatedly asked, “Where is Suresh Jalgar?” One of the accused reportedly had Jalgar’s photograph on a mobile phone. After identifying him, the group allegedly assaulted him before one of them pointed a pistol at him and attempted to fire.
The incident triggered panic inside the club, with several people present fleeing for safety. Amid the confusion, Jalgar managed to escape and reached the Camp Police Station to lodge a complaint.
Police Commissioner Bhushan Borse said the incident is being treated with utmost seriousness.
“Cases have been registered at the Camp Police Station, and two special teams have been formed to investigate the matter. Preliminary inquiries indicate that the incident appears to have stemmed from previous enmity and financial disputes,” he said.
Initial investigations indicate that the attack may have been linked to a long-standing rivalry between the two groups. Police sources said a case had been registered at the Belagavi Rural Police Station last year in connection with an alleged assault on Prafull Patil by Suresh Jalgar and his associates. Investigators believe the hostility continued thereafter and may have culminated in Tuesday night’s armed attack.
Soon after the incident was reported, Camp Police rushed to the scene. Police Commissioner Bhushan Borse and Deputy Commissioner of Police N. V. Barmani personally visited the gymkhana to review the investigation.
Police have seized CCTV footage from the premises and surrounding areas, while statements of eyewitnesses are being recorded. Raids are underway in Belagavi and parts of Maharashtra, including Kolhapur and Chandgad, to trace the accused.