Indiscriminate Firing on House of Former MLA Bumber Thakur in Himachal: Condition of PSO and Others Critical

Bilaspur, March 14: Bumber Thakur, the ex-MLA from Congress, got attacked at his home in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh, on March 14, afternoon. The attack, which came just ahead of the festival of Holi, has roiled the entire state. The assailants opened fire indiscriminately injuring Thakur and his Personal Security Officer (PSO) critically. The brazen attack has sparked serious concerns about security and law enforcement in the area.

Eyewitnesses later said that the assailants, carrying pistols, arrived at Thakur’s residence around 3 pm and fired 12 rounds. While Bumber Thakur was shot in the back and abdomen, the PSO received multiple injuries in the abdomen. Both victims are in critical condition, and medical teams are working to stabilize them. The horrifying incident has brought the normally calm town of Bilaspur to a standstill, where residents were looking forward to the upcoming festival of Holi until it was ruined by the recent outbreak of violence.

After the attack, however, the streets in Bilaspur were unusually empty, the markets shuttered, the residents safely locked up in fear inside their homes. Video footage of the incident, captured by security cameras in the area, emerged, showing the attackers shooting at the house, but the suspects have not been apprehended.

Initially, Bumber Thakur was rushed to the district hospital in Bilaspur for emergency treatment. But because of the serious nature of his injuries, he was advised to be transferred to a higher medical institution. However, Thakur allegedly refused to be shifted to AIIMS Bilaspur and instead wanted that he should be referred to either IGMC Shimla or PGI Chandigarh for better treatment. His unwillingness to go to the nearby hospital has raised eyebrows, and local authorities are investigating whether other factors are at play behind his refusal.

Bumber Thakur was not the first target of this attack. He was perhaps attacked in February, 2024 similarly again, and a shooting incident also occurred around the Bilaspur court premises in June 2024. There have been so many attacks, so many overrun vehicle barricades, that many have wondered whether the attacks are part of a larger plot or vendetta.

Bilaspur Police have raised their alert level in response to the attack, and police from the district are investigating the case. DC Abid Hussain Sadiq went to the hospital to gain details on the attack and to converse with those that treated him. Officials are studying the CCTV footage from the site of the incident, which was reportedly gathered within the hour of the incident. Investigators say they believe the footage can help identify and catch the attackers.

The police are also investigating whether this attack is connected to previous attacks — and it remains unclear whether the attack was politically motivated or driven by personal vendetta. The attack, which comes just days ahead of the Holi festival, has only heightened the scrutiny over security and law and order in the region.

While the investigation is ongoing, the entire state is left speculating about the motivations for the attack. A personal revenge or a political conspiracy? The answers may soon come as the police force their hunt for the attackers.

It has not only raised security concerns for political leaders but also in the Bilaspur state. But with anger brewing, the focus is now on the continuing investigation, which is set to reveal the motivations behind the grotesque assault.