IAF officer's house fired upon in MP; two held in Mumbai after social media threat
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Police on Saturday, 13 June arrested two men from the Kala Ghoda area of South Mumbai for allegedly opening fire outside the residence of an Indian Air Force (IAF) officer in Satna district, Madhya Pradesh, and subsequently threatening the state police through a live social media broadcast. The accused were tracked down using technical surveillance and a network of local informants before being handed over to the Madhya Pradesh Police.
The Incident in Satna
According to officials, the firing took place on 5 June within the jurisdiction of the Kolgawan police station in Satna. The two accused allegedly discharged five rounds from a country-made pistol outside the IAF officer's house before fleeing the scene immediately. No injuries were reported in the initial incident.
The matter escalated sharply when the duo, while absconding, allegedly uploaded a video on social media in which they openly mocked the Madhya Pradesh Police and threatened further violence — reportedly declaring that their 'next bullet' would be aimed at the police force. Investigators noted that the accused appeared eager to project themselves as notorious criminals through social media reels. Shortly after posting the video, they switched off their mobile phones to evade tracking.
The Hunt Across State Lines
Technical surveillance provided a crucial lead, indicating the accused had fled to Mumbai by car. Intelligence inputs suggested they could be hiding in the Azad Maidan, M.R.A. Marg, or Cuffe Parade areas of South Mumbai. A special team from the Satna police subsequently reached Mumbai and coordinated with the Cuffe Parade police, whose local cyber unit immediately joined the operation.
After receiving details about the suspects — including physical descriptions and the registration number of their vehicle — the Cuffe Parade Police activated their informant network. Specific inputs soon placed the accused moving around the Kala Ghoda area in the same vehicle. Officers cordoned off the area and intercepted the two men before they could react or attempt to use any weapons. Their vehicle was also seized.
Who Was Arrested
The arrested individuals have been identified as Amarsingh Ashoksingh Parihar, 25, and Abhignan Sankatmochan Tripathi, 23, both residents of Madhya Pradesh. A case had already been registered against them at the Kolgawan police station under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 296(A), 109(1), 324(4), 351(3), and 3(5), along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.
Handover and Next Steps
After completing legal formalities, the Mumbai Police handed both accused over to the Satna police. Following the grant of transit remand by a court on Friday, the Madhya Pradesh Police team departed for Satna with the accused for further investigation. This cross-state operation underscores a growing pattern of criminals using social media to project notoriety while attempting to evade law enforcement — a challenge that police forces across India are increasingly grappling with.