In Uttarakhand, an ongoing verbal spat between sitting MLA and ex-MLA took ugly turn when the former BJP legislator Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion carried out firing and vandalism at the office of Khanpur MLA Umesh Sharma. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media showing former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion, along with his supporters, arriving at the Khanpur MLA’s office and firing several rounds and beating staff present at the office. In the video, former MLA Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion can be seen firing shots.
Later, upset with firing and assault of his staff at Roorkee’s house, Khanpur MLA Umesh Kumar ran with a pistol in his hand to kill former MLA Pranav Champion. Police and other people stopped him, as seen another video.
यह हैं खानपुर विधायक उमेश कुमार हाथ में बंदूक लेकर मुंह में मां बहन की गालियों से सुशोभित, जिन लोगों ने जनता का कल्याण करना था वे फेसबुक लड़ाई से लेकर सड़कों पर बंदूक लिए फिर रहे हैं। ये दशक उत्तराखंड का दशक है। गिरफ्तार करो इन दोनों को ताकि जनता शांतिपूर्वक रहे https://t.co/QvO7dT9wws pic.twitter.com/1GUpx57gep
— Uttarakhandi (@UttarakhandGo) January 26, 2025
Police has arrested Pranav Singh while Umesh Sharma was also detained briefly. “We have arrested Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion. Besides, we are also taking action against Umesh Kumar. The police will be taking appropriate action in this matter,” said Haridwar SSP Pramendra Singh Dobal.
कल निकाय चुनाव में औंधे मुंह हारने के बाद आज मेरे सरकरी आवास पर भाजपा के पूर्व विधायक प्रणव सिंह चैंपियन ने हथियारबंद बदमाशों के साथ दर्जनों हथियारों से चलायी कई सौ राउंड गोलियां।@AmitShah जी @PMOIndia @narendramodi @JPNadda @aajtak @ZeeNews @ndtv @IndiaToday @AmarUjalaNews… pic.twitter.com/NW3faBbn5z
— Umesh Kumar (@Umeshnni) January 26, 2025
The ongoing feud between Umesh Kumar and Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion took a violent turn over the weekend. Following a social media post by Pranav, Umesh allegedly entered his residence on Saturday, issuing threats to his family.
The tension escalated on Sunday when Pranav and his supporters reportedly visited Umesh’s office and opened fire. A video of the incident, allegedly shared by Pranav on his Facebook account, has since gone viral.
Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion has been taken into custody by the police. Meanwhile, Pranav’s wife has lodged a formal complaint against Umesh Kumar, accusing him of threatening her husband and brandishing a weapon at their children.
Authorities have also confirmed that a report on the licensed firearms owned by both Umesh and Pranav is being prepared for submission to the District Magistrate. The police have recommended the suspension of these weapons’ licenses.
Pranav Champion, a four-time MLA from Khanpur, previously contested against Umesh Kumar in the 2022 Uttarakhand Assembly elections, fielding his wife as a candidate. However, she was defeated in the polls.
It is worth noting that Kunwar Pranav Singh Champion was expelled from the BJP in 2019 for using “derogatory language.” However, he was reinstated into the party at a later stage.