An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Punjab Police, accompanied by five others, including SHO, Rampura Phul police station, Devinder Attri, allegedly fired at the manager of a local hotel late last night when they were refused liquor and food by the latter.

The police officer, who fired shots at the manager and in the air, also threatened to implicate the owners of the hotel in false criminal cases to teach them a lesson.

In an application moved to the Chief Minister, DGP, and SSP, Bathinda, Mr Rajinder Kumar Sharma, manager, Hotel Sepal, alleged that an ASI along with five others came to the hotel in a car late in the evening.

After parking the car in the porch of the hotel, they started dancing to music that was being played in the car.

On hearing the rumble, he along with other staff members of the hotel approached them to restore some order.

Instead, the police party started claiming that they were high-ranked police officers and would teach them a lesson for obstructing their merrymaking.

They then asked for liquor and food, but on being refused by the staff on grounds that it too late in the night, the police party got agitated and one of them — the ASI — started firing. He also fired a shot at Mr Sharma but missed him as he moved to one side.

Mr Sharma pointed out that following the incident, the employees and owners of the hotel were scared and apprehended danger to their lives and property.

He said he had requested top officials to register a criminal case against the accused so that justice could be served.

Mr Attri, while denying the allegations levelled by Mr Sharma, said he did not have pistol at the time of the incident.

According to information, another police officer posted in the district was in the hotel at the time of the incident.

SSP Kapil Dev could not be contacted for his comments.