Meerut, July 16 -- A long-standing financial dispute over just Rs.3,000 erupted into a deadly gun battle in Bulandshahr district on Tuesday night, leaving two moneylenders dead after a 15-minute exchange of gunfire that ended with one of the victims allegedly being run over by an SUV. The sensational incident triggered tension in Nizampur village, prompting authorities to deploy heavy police and Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel to maintain law and order.

The violence took place on Tuesday evening in Nizampur village, under the Sikandrabad police station limits, about 20 kilometres from the Bulandshahr district headquarters.

Police said the deceased, Sonu Singh (42), and Ajab Singh (48), were both engaged in the business of ...