Soldier threatens villagers with air gun; Police let him off with warning

Mysuru: A serving soldier threatened a group of people in a dispute with his relative with an air gun that resembles a pistol, at Gananguru village near Srirangapatna in Mandya yesterday. He was detained by the Police only to be let off with a warning later. The accused has been identified as Rohit Shetty from Mysuru and he flashed the gun at Manju and Suresh. Rohit Shetty who married one Ram Shetty’s granddaughter Harshita had gone to the latter’s village on Dec.25. He was at home when he came to know that Ram Shetty was exchanging words with his relatives Manju and Prakash over a land dispute. Ram Shetty had lodged a complaint at Srirangapatna Rural Police Station over the dispute on Dec.24. Following the complaint, ASI Huchhegowda inspected the said land and when the complaint turned out to be false, the angry relatives of Shetty chastised him. This led to a wordy duel. Rohit, who came to the spot, aimed the air gun at aggrieved parties, in front of the Police personnel. Tense moments prevailed in the area as Rohit flashed the gun. The Policemen, who were caught off guard, later heaved a sigh of relief after it came to light that it was an air gun. The Police summoned Rohit Shetty and Ram Shetty to the Police Station and warned them of legal action if they continued to threaten villagers with the gun. Villagers later convinced the Police not to book a case against Rohit Shetty. He was let off with a warning.