Attempted Murder by Tractor in Nainital: Accused Arrested in 12 Hours,,

Nainital: Under the direction of Superintendent of Police (SSP) Nainital Dr. Manjunath T.C., Kaladhoongi police have arrested a suspect in a case where a youth was nearly run over by a tractor at a roadside dhaba in the Chakluwa area. The accused, along with the tractor used in the attack and an illegal pistol, was apprehended within about 12 hours of the incident.
Tractor repeatedly rammed into parked car at dhaba
Late on the evening of 31 March 2026, around 9:30 pm, the victim Himanshu Deupa (resident of Lachhampur, Chakluwa) had parked his new car at a highway dhaba near Naya Pahadi, Chakluwa, while having food with a friend. The accused, Praveen Singh Deupa (resident of Pratappur), allegedly drove his tractor into the car four to five times in an attempt to kill them, causing serious damage to the vehicle and injuries to both occupants. The attacker then shouted abuses and threats before fleeing the scene on the tractor.
FIR registered under BNS, forensic team sent to spot
Based on the victim’s complaint, Kaladhoongi police registered FIR No. 29/2026 at the local police station under sections 109/352/351(2)/324(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for attempted murder and criminal conspiracy. SSP Nainital Dr. Manjunath T.C. directed SP Crime Dr. Jagdish Chandra and SP Haldwani Manoj Kumar Katyala to ensure the swift arrest of the accused and full investigation. A forensic team was immediately deployed to examine the dhaba site and collect evidence.
Arrest in 12 hours, tractor and illegal pistol recovered
Leveraging CCTV footage and field intelligence, police teams tracked the suspect and cornered him on the Nainital–Haldwani road. On 1 April 2026, Kaladhoongi police arrested Praveen Singh Deupa along with the tractor used in the attack. From his possession, officers also recovered an illegal 315‑bore pistol. A separate case has been registered against him under the Arms Act for illegal possession of the firearm.
Old mining dispute turned into violent attack
Police investigation, including statements from relatives and the accused’s background, indicated a long‑standing dispute between the two families over sand and gravel (bajri) business at the Nihal River—particularly regarding the pricing and supply of mining material. This dispute reportedly turned into personal enmity, which culminated in the tractor assault at the dhaba.
Police team members involved
The operation was led by Station House Officer Arun Kumar Saini, KCO Ramnagar Sumit Pandey, and SHO Kala Dhungi, along with a team including Senior Sub‑Inspector Pankaj Joshi, SI Rajesh Joshi (SOG in‑charge), SI Rajveer Negi (in‑charge of Belpradaw chowki), SI Pooja Rani, ASI Kailash Chandra Bhatt, and constables Amandeep, Kishan Goswami, Akhilesh Tiwari, and Arvind Bist (SOG).
SSP Nainital issues zero‑tolerance message
SSP Nainital Dr. Manjunath T.C. stated that no element indulging in law‑and‑order violations will be spared in the district. He reiterated a “zero‑tolerance” policy against anyone attempting lethal attacks or possessing illegal weapons. The police have warned that continued vigilance will be maintained on persons using mining or commercial disputes as an excuse for violence, and that strict legal action will be ensured to prevent recurrence of such incidents. The safety and security of the general public, he emphasized, remains the top priority for the Nainital police.