Dentist Celebrates ‘Pollution-Free’ Diwali With Gunshots, Faces Charges Under Arms Act – News18

Last Updated:November 08, 2024, 16:59 IST

The video showed her resting against a Mahindra Thar car, taking five aimless shots in the air, all with a licensed gun.

A dentist from Uttarakhand has come under public scrutiny and legal trouble after she celebrated Diwali with gunshots in the air. Aanchal Dhingra posted a video on social media of herself firing a licensed pistol towards the sky at her farmhouse in Gadarpur, claiming it was her unique way of enjoying a “pollution-free” Diwali. The video soon went viral and authorities were quick to respond. Dhingra was booked under the Arms Act, as discharging a firearm in this manner is considered a violation.

Dhingra works at Guru Maa Advanced Dental Care in Rudrapur and is married to businessman Abhimanyu Dhingra, as per a report by the Times Of India (TOI). The ill-fated video on Diwali night showed her resting against a Mahindra Thar car, taking five aimless shots in the air, all with a licensed gun. This was not only provocative but also unlawful according to the Indian law and regulation that prohibits discharging firearms in public or in celebration.

The police got involved when people complained about the video. After examining the facts, Rudrapur’s Station House Officer (SHO), Manoj Raturi confirmed that the dentist had fired her weapon and consequently filed a case against her under sections 27(1) and 30 of the Arms Act, as per TOI. The authorities have reportedly considered cancelling her licence to bear firearms because of this violation.

Meanwhile, in Delhi’s Shahdara area, a Diwali celebration took a violent turn when two men were shot dead on October 31, 2024. The victims, identified as Akash Sharma, 40, and his 16-year-old nephew Rishabh Sharma, were attacked at their family residence. Akash’s 10-year-old son, Krish, was also present and narrowly escaped injury during the incident.

Police reported that the attackers fired five rounds. CCTV footage helped identify a juvenile suspect, who has since been detained for questioning. Preliminary investigations suggest that the attack stemmed from personal enmity, though police continue to probe for further details.