Tikamgarh liquor shop shooting: Armed men fire at employee, loot IMFL bottles
Synopsis
A group of armed men fired at a liquor shop employee in Tikamgarh, MP, with CCTV footage showing a pistol pointed through a window at point-blank range before the men looted IMFL bottles and fled. The incident, which the Congress has used to attack Chief Minister Mohan Yadav's dual charge of the Home portfolio, comes during Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state — adding political heat to what is already a serious law-and-order lapse.
Key Takeaways
Armed men allegedly fired at employee Bhupendra Rai at a composite liquor shop near Mohangarh intersection , Tikamgarh , on Thursday night .
The bullet narrowly missed Rai and struck liquor bottles; three men then entered the shop, threatened him, and looted IMFL bottles .
Main accused identified as Kuldeep Yadav of Shivrajpura village , who already has criminal cases including illegal liquor trade at two police stations.
Police have identified all accused and say raids are underway; arrests expected soon.
MP Congress president Jitu Patwari targeted CM Mohan Yadav — who also holds the Home portfolio — over the incident, coinciding with Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state.
Armed men allegedly opened fire on a liquor shop employee in Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, on Thursday night, narrowly missing him before looting expensive bottles of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and fleeing the scene, police confirmed on Friday, 2 October 2026. The incident came to light after CCTV footage of the attack surfaced on social media.
How the Attack Unfolded
The incident occurred at a composite liquor shop near the Mohangarh intersection in the Babri area, falling under Dehat Police Station limits. According to police, viral CCTV footage purportedly shows one of the accused pointing a country-made pistol through a window and firing directly at employee Bhupendra Rai. The bullet narrowly missed Rai and instead struck liquor bottles stored behind him.
Subsequently, three men entered the shop, allegedly threatened Rai, and walked away with expensive IMFL bottles before fleeing the spot. Rai later reported the incident to local police.
Main Accused Identified
Police have identified the main accused as Kuldeep Yadav, a resident of Shivrajpura village. According to police, criminal cases — including those related to the illegal liquor trade — are already registered against him at Mohangarh and Digoda police stations. This is not, therefore, a first brush with the law for the primary suspect.
'All the accused have been identified, and police teams are conducting raids at their suspected hideouts. They will be arrested soon,' a police official at Dehat Police Station said.
Political Fallout
The brazen attack has triggered a sharp political reaction. The Indian National Congress (INC) questioned the law-and-order situation in the state, noting that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also holds the Home portfolio, making him directly accountable for policing outcomes.
Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari linked the incident to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's ongoing visit to the state, taking an explicit swipe at the Chief Minister. In a post on X, Patwari wrote: 'Dear Mohan Yadav ji, the Union Home Minister has been welcomed by Yadav ji from Tikamgarh! A resounding ‘salute’ to MP’s law and order!'
What Happens Next
Police have said raids are underway at suspected hideouts of the accused, with arrests expected shortly. The political pressure is likely to intensify given that the state's Home portfolio sits with the Chief Minister and a senior Union minister is currently in Madhya Pradesh. Whether swift arrests follow will be closely watched as a test of the state administration's response to the incident.
Point of View
Every law-and-order lapse lands squarely on one desk. The fact that CCTV footage went viral before police made a public statement suggests the administration was reactive, not proactive. Congress is right to press the question, even if the political timing — with Amit Shah in the state — is opportunistic. The more substantive issue is that the accused had prior criminal records at two police stations; the failure to prevent a repeat incident from a known offender points to surveillance and monitoring gaps that a round of raids will not fix.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened at the liquor shop in Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh?
A group of armed men allegedly fired at liquor shop employee Bhupendra Rai at a composite shop near the Mohangarh intersection in Tikamgarh on Thursday night. The bullet missed Rai, after which three men entered, threatened him, looted expensive IMFL bottles, and fled.
Who is the main accused in the Tikamgarh liquor shop firing?
Police have identified the main accused as Kuldeep Yadav, a resident of Shivrajpura village. Criminal cases, including those related to the illegal liquor trade, are already registered against him at Mohangarh and Digoda police stations.
Have arrests been made in the Tikamgarh firing case?
As of Friday, 2 October 2026, no arrests had been made. Police said all accused have been identified and teams are conducting raids at suspected hideouts, with arrests expected soon.
Why has the Tikamgarh incident become a political issue?
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav also holds the Home portfolio, making him directly accountable for law and order in Madhya Pradesh. Congress leaders, including state president Jitu Patwari, used the incident to attack the government, particularly as Union Home Minister Amit Shah was visiting the state at the time.
How did the Tikamgarh firing come to public attention?
The incident came to light after CCTV footage purportedly showing one of the accused pointing a pistol through a shop window and firing at the employee surfaced and went viral on social media. The employee subsequently reported the incident to local police.
