Bengaluru: A 40-year-old IT professional was taken into custody after allegedly opening fire with an air gun at security guards and vehicles inside an apartment complex near Anekal on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The incident occurred at Sipani Apartments near Bandapur, where the accused, identified as Anurag Tiwari, had been staying in a rented flat for the past eight months. Tiwari, a native of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, works for a private IT company in Whitefield.

According to police, the incident unfolded after Tiwari allegedly became heavily intoxicated and began shouting while speaking to someone over the phone inside his apartment.

Air gun pellets hit vehicles

Police said Tiwari later stepped out onto the balcony of his apartment and allegedly began firing pellets from an air gun.

The pellets reportedly struck vehicles parked inside the apartment complex as well as the metal sheets covering the parking area.

The sound of the firing alerted security personnel at the complex. When the guards rushed towards the location to find out what had happened, Tiwari allegedly fired the air gun in their direction as well.

The incident caused panic among residents and security personnel at the apartment complex, with the firing continuing for several minutes.

Police reach apartment complex

According to the police, the firing continued for nearly 45 minutes before personnel from the Surya Nagar police station reached the apartment complex.

Police intervened and took Tiwari into custody. The air gun allegedly used in the incident and pellets were also seized during the operation.

No information has been reported about any person sustaining serious injuries in the incident. However, the alleged firing at security guards and vehicles prompted police to take immediate action.

The circumstances leading to the incident are now being examined as part of the investigation.

Accused allegedly intoxicated

Police said Tiwari was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.

The sequence reportedly began inside his rented apartment, where he was allegedly shouting while speaking on the phone. He subsequently went to the balcony with the air gun and began firing pellets.

Investigators are looking into what triggered the episode and whether there was any prior dispute involving the accused, residents or security personnel at the apartment complex.

Police are also examining the air gun and the circumstances in which it was being kept by the accused.

Case registered

A case has been registered at the Surya Nagar Police Station in connection with the incident.

The seized air gun and pellets are expected to form part of the evidence being examined by investigators. Police are also gathering information about the damage caused to vehicles and other property inside the apartment complex.

Further investigation will establish the exact sequence of events, the extent of the damage and the circumstances under which the alleged firing took place.

The incident has also raised concerns among residents about safety within apartment complexes, particularly when individuals engage in disruptive or potentially dangerous behaviour.

Investigation underway

Police are continuing their investigation into the incident involving the IT professional.

Statements from security guards and other people present at the apartment complex are likely to help investigators reconstruct the events leading up to the firing. The police will also examine the circumstances surrounding Tiwari’s alleged intoxication and possession of the air gun.

Although an air gun is different from a conventional firearm, firing pellets towards people and property can pose a serious safety risk. The alleged firing towards security guards has therefore prompted police intervention and a formal case.

With the accused in custody and the air gun seized, investigators are now working to determine the motive behind the incident and assess the damage caused at the apartment complex.