A wave of panic descended on the Bidasar area late Monday night in Rajasthan's Churu district after a group of armed miscreants stormed and indiscriminately opened fire in a local hotel. The brazen assault which occurred around 12:30 AM on March 3, 2026—resulted in the immediate death of the hotel owner and left three others fighting for their lives.
The hotel was situated along Sandwa Road at 'The Royal Treat' hotel. The attackers were reported to have come in a vehicle, and as they entered the hotel, there were three to four masked attackers who pulled out firearms. The hotel owner, Maniram Manda (35), received multiple shots at close range from the shooters.
Manda, who was involved in the local liquor trade, died on the spot from his injuries. In the chaotic gunfire, another three men, Bhikharam Jat, Shravan Jat, and Prabhuram Prajapat all residents of Dadiba sustained serious bullet wounds. A person in the witness account, Prabhuram, mentioned that he had just visited the hotel for dinner and initially accepted the brandished gun as a prank before the gunfire started.
The wounded patients were immediately taken to Bagadia Hospital in Sujangarh and subsequently to SMS Hospital in Jaipur for more advanced treatment; they are still in serious condition. SP Jai Yadav stated: Preliminary investigations suggest that there has been a long-standing rivalry in the liquor business as the prime motive. Both the victim and the suspects seemed to be vying for a bar license in the same locality.
SP Yadav also announced that multiple police teams have been established to trace the assailants, and one major perpetrator, Rajuram Nehra, is being pursued. As of Tuesday evening, the hotel has been sealed, and a large police force remains deployed in the Bidasar area. While the organized crime angle continues to be investigated, The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) has collected evidence including empty cartridges from the scene. The incident has also caused concern in the state about the worsening of the security situation, said former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.
