Agra waiter shot dead; Police dismiss 'Pahalgam revenge' claims as fake narrative
Agra: The fatal shooting of a 27-year-old Muslim waiter in Agra on Wednesday night has sparked controversy after social media claims linked the incident to "revenge" for the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir. However, the police have dismissed these claims, terming them as fake and inflammatory.
Gulfam, an employee at a restaurant on Shilpgram Road, was shot dead around midnight by three unidentified assailants on a scooter. Saif Ali (25), who worked at a nearby dhaba, was also injured in the firing and is currently stable after undergoing surgery to remove a bullet from his shoulder.
Shortly after the shooting, a video circulated online showing two men identifying themselves as members of the “Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal” and claiming responsibility for the killing as an act of revenge for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists. The men, armed with guns and knives, alleged that the victim had been targeted for his religious identity.
Tajganj Police, however, have rejected any communal motive behind the attack. The Agra Police Commissionerate clarified via its official X handle that no such organization exists in the city and that preliminary investigations point to a personal dispute, reportedly over food quality.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Tajganj) Areeb Ahmed stated that an FIR under Sections 101 (murder) and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita has been registered. Six teams are currently reviewing CCTV footage and monitoring border checkpoints to track down the accused.
One of the individuals seen in the viral video has been taken into custody, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the second. ACP (Cyber Cell) Sukanya Sharma warned that spreading communal misinformation could lead to legal consequences under the IT Act, and said cyber teams have flagged several handles for inciting tensions online.
Officials at S.N. Medical College confirmed that Gulfam died of a close-range gunshot wound. Forensic teams recovered three spent cartridges from the crime scene. Eyewitnesses described the attackers as being in their early 20s and fleeing towards Fatehabad Road.
Local citizens’ group Hindustani Biradari has called for communal harmony and announced the deployment of volunteers to counter online disinformation.
Restaurant owner Shahid Ali has appealed for enhanced night patrolling and upgraded CCTV infrastructure, particularly in the Shilpgram-Taj East Gate corridor—a tourist-heavy area recently visited by US Vice President J.D. Vance and his family.
Police expect significant progress in the investigation within 48 hours and continue to examine all possible motives, including communal provocation.
उत्तर प्रदेश के आगरा में 3 लोगों ने रेस्टोरेंट वर्कर गुलफाम की गोली मारकर हत्या कर दी। फायरिंग में सैफ अली के सीने पर भी गोली के छर्रे लगे हैं।
— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) April 24, 2025
क्षत्रिय गौरक्षा दल से जुड़े मनोज चौधरी ने एक Video जारी करके कहा– "ताजनगरी आगरा में 2 कटु* मारे गए। क्षत्रिय गोरक्षा दल इसकी… pic.twitter.com/qhNj8pw5b8
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE AGRA (@agrapolice) April 24, 2025
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LIVE | Election Results of five states 2026
New Delhi: The countdown has begun for the counting of votes for the Assembly elections in five states that have captured the attention of people across the country.
The counting of votes for the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and the Union Territory of Puducherry will begin simultaneously at 8 am, and the fate of candidates in a total of 824 constituencies will be decided shortly.
The counting of postal ballots will take place first, followed by the counting of EVM votes in several rounds.
► DMK candidate in Thiruchirapalli KN Nehru behind TVK's G Ramamoorthi by 292 votes
► The BJP has taken an early lead in West Bengal, while Mamata Banerjee faces tough competition
► TVK head Vijay leads in Perambur constituency
► M. K. Stalin is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Kolathur constituency.
► AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is leading in Tamil Nadu’s Edappadi constituency
► In Puducherry, BJP is leading in 3 seats.
► In Assam, BJP is leading in 56 seats, while Congress is leading in 12 seats.
► Suvendhu Adhikari leads in both Bhabanipur and Nandigram
► West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee faces setback in Bhabanipur constituency
► Bhupen Borah, who recently left Congress and joined the BJP, is leading in Assam’s Bihpuria constituency
► Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma is leading in Jalukabari constituency
► BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is leading in West Bengal’s Nandigram constituencyFive-state elections: Postal vote counting begins
► TMC, BJP lead in one seat each in West Bengal
► In Tamil Nadu, DMK leads in 3 constituencies, while TVK leads in 1
► UDF leads in 5 seats in Kerala, BJP in 1, LDF in 1
► BJP leads in 2 seats, AIUDF in 1 in Assam
► AINRC leads in 1 constituency in Puducherry
► TMC leads in 5 seats in West Bengal; Mamata Banerjee’s party maintains initial lead
► Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin leads in Kolathur
► BJP takes early lead in Assam
► Congress-led UDF leads in Kerala
► Tamil Nadu, TVK chief Vijay leads in the Perambur constituency, lags in Tiruchirappalli South
► BJP leads in 10 seats in Assam
► LDF candidate V.P.P. Mustafa leads in the Thrikkaripur Assembly constituency
► Out of 294 seats in West Bengal, BJP is leading in 14 seats, TMC in 12 seats, Congress in 2 seats
► Out of 234 seats in Tamil Nadu, DMK is leading in 15 seats, AIADMK is leading in 5 seats, TVK is leading in 2 seats
► Out of 126 seats in Assam, BJP is leading in 31 seats, Congress in 4 seats, AIUDF in 2 seats.
► Out of 30 seats in Puducherry, NRC+ is leading in 3 seats, Congress in 2 seats, TVK in 1 seat.
► Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury suffers a setback in theBerhampore constituency in West Bengal.
