Villager shot dead in Rajaji Park

A villager was shot dead in Dhaulkhand range of Rajaji Park on the border of Dehra Dun and Haridwar districts near here, police said. Babulal (52), a resident of Bullawala village, was shot dead yesterday when he had gone to the jungles of Rajaji Park to fetch grass for making brooms, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Haridwar Sanjay Gunjyal said. Dharm Singh, who accompanied him, informed his family members and the police about the incident, Gunjyal said, adding that police reached the spot and sent his body for post-mortem. Dharm Singh told police he had not seen anybody firing a shot at Babulal. However, the villagers who gathered at the spot claimed that the bullet was fired by a forest personnel of the Park, though Park authorities have denied the allegations and said the murder could have been committed by poachers. The family members of Babulal today lodged a complaint of murder against authorities of the park and further investigations are on, Gunjyal said.