Retired Brigadier shot dead during morning walk in Dehradun — crossfire between two groups

Brigadier VK Joshi (retired), 67, died on Monday morning after being struck by a stray bullet during his daily walk near his home in Dehradun. The Uttarakhand capital, long considered one of India’s safer cities, was shaken by an incident that locals described as completely without precedent in their experience.

According to police and eyewitness accounts, two groups of men arrived in separate vehicles on the residential street where Joshi was walking shortly after sunrise. An argument between the groups escalated to gunfire. Joshi, who was walking with a small group of neighbours, was struck by a bullet that police believe was not aimed at him.

“He was walking ahead of us when I heard the shots. By the time we reached him he had fallen,” an eyewitness told local media. Joshi was rushed to a nearby hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Uttarakhand Police confirmed the arrest of three individuals by Monday afternoon. Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh said the shooting appeared to be connected to a local land dispute, and that additional persons of interest were being tracked. A Special Investigation Team has been formed.

Joshi had served over 35 years in the Indian Army before retiring in Dehradun, where he had lived with his family for the past decade. His death drew condemnation from serving and retired military officers, with several calling on the state government to explain how firearms were being discharged freely in a residential area in broad daylight.