Three members of a councillor's family were shot dead at a gym in Bulandshahr district, Uttar Pradesh, following a dispute during a birthday party. Police said the gym owner returned with a licensed pistol, opened fire, and fled after removing the CCTV DVR. Senior officers inspected the scene as teams hunt for the accused.
The incident occurred at RJS Fitness Gym on Subhash Marg during a birthday bash hosted by 33-year-old gym operator Jeetu Saini around 11pm on Saturday. A heated argument broke out between Jeetu and Amardeep, 35, cousin of ward 24 councillor Sanjay Saini, escalating to involve Amardeep's brother Manish, 32.
Jeetu allegedly left the gym, returned with a licensed pistol, and shot Amardeep and Manish at close range. He chased Sanjay Saini's nephew Akash, 19, and shot him in the head as he fled. All three died at the scene.
Panic spread as revellers hid behind equipment. Deputy Inspector General Kalanidhi Naithani said, "The birthday dispute appears to be the immediate cause, though the exact motive is under investigation. Six teams have been formed to arrest the accused and establish the sequence of events."
Police recovered liquor bottles and cigarettes, pointing to alcohol as a factor. They are probing an old rivalry over Saini Dharamshala and the accused's reported ties to the Bahujan Samaj Party. Over 15 people have been detained, with nearby CCTV footage under analysis. Manish leaves a two-year-old daughter; Amardeep, a five-year-old son and infant daughter. The family lost another member last year, relatives said.