Overview

• Mohit Arya, a government primary school teacher in Saharanpur, was found at a hideout after a region-wide manhunt and taken into custody following an overnight police encounter that left him injured.
• Authorities seized a pistol from the suspect at the scene of the encounter.
• Constable Ajay Kumar, 32, was on leave and walking in Sunheda village when he was shot after a dispute over a cricket match and WhatsApp messages on the night of June 29.
• Police have registered a murder case and are conducting raids on possible hideouts while investigating the roles of any co-conspirators.
• The incident highlights vulnerabilities faced by off-duty officers and broader concerns about conflict escalation and small-arms proliferation in rural areas.