Same man behind Balongi shooting, Baltana murder

MOHALI:The Mohali police today claimed to have worked out last month’s firing incident at Balongi village, in which a financier was injured, with the arrest of three members of a “supari” killers’ gang, main conspirator Rohit Madhok and co-conspirator Rajinder, alias Joker.

Mohali SSP KS Chahal holds a press conference on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Mohali, August 12

The Mohali police today claimed to have worked out last month’s firing incident at Balongi village, in which a financier was injured, with the arrest of three members of a “supari” killers’ gang, main conspirator Rohit Madhok and co-conspirator Rajinder, alias Joker. The police have also claimed that Madhok had also hired three other assassins to kill Baltana-based Ajay Jain following business rivalry and they have been identified.

The arrested “supari” killers have been identified as Vipan Kumar from Nanheri, Fatehabad (Haryana); Sunil Kumar, alias Seelu from Serawali Baglehar (Himachal Pradesh); and Hardeep Singh, alias Happu from Bhalaan. The police have also recovered two .32-bore pistols along with 35 cartridges, three 315-bore pistols with 39 cartridges, one 30-bore pistol with two cartridges and a motorcycle (PB12B 9438) used in the crime from their possession.

Madhok and Joker, who are already lodged in Ropar Jail, were brought here on production warrant by the Mohali police, which later arrested them. Joker introduced the ‘supari’ killers to Madhok for the elimination of Balongi-based financier, Harwinder Singh, aka Hira, and Madhok’s wife Reena. The deal was closed at Rs 2.5 lakh.

Madhok suspected that his wife had illicit relations with Hira. The conspiracy to eliminate Hira and Reena was hatched by Madhok and Joker in Ropar Jail.

Earlier, Madhok was arrested for opening fire on his wife Reena last year, and was sent to Patiala Jail. Later on, he was shifted to Ropar Jail.

Madhok is the same person, who had hired three other ‘supari’ killers to kill Baltana-based Ajay Jain over business rivalry. Jain was shot dead by the ‘supari’ killers on April 27 in the main market of Baltana.

Giving details, Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kuldeep Singh Chahal said Vipan, Seelu and Happu were hardcore professional killers, who took money from Madhok through Joker to eliminate Hira and Reena. “The miscreants had opened fire at Hira on July 14 after calling him out of his house at Balongi and fled the scene. Hira, who had suffered three gunshot wounds in the leg, survived the attack. Then the killers were asked to kill Hira (at the PGI) and Reena. They conducted a recce at the PGI but failed to give shape to their nefarious activities, and were arrested,” said the SSP.

Madhok had sent the details of his wife, including her vehicle registration number, its make and a photo, to the killers on WhatsApp, said the police.

“The gang members, including Neeraj from Nurpur Bedi, Gurpreet Singh, alias Preeti from Dhadi village (Kiratpur Sahib), Vipan Kumar and Seelu, had also opened fire on Chanpreet Singh at Government College, Ropar,” said the SSP, adding that a case in this connection had been registered under Section 307, 148, 149 and 506, IPC, and 25/54/59 of the Arms Act at the Ropar police station.

Vipan faces a theft case at the Kurali police station while at least four criminal cases, including one of attempt to murder, have been registered against Happu at Nangal and Una.

In connection with the firing incident at Balongi, a case under Section 307 and 34, IPC, and 25 of the Arms Act has been registered.

Baltana-based Ajay Jain murdered over business rivalry, killers identified

In the Ajay Jain murder case, the police claimed to have identified the other “supari” killers whom Rohit Madhok had hired for Rs 14 lakh through Amit Kumar Malik, alias Bhoora from Sarnabali (UP). Madhok, who was earlier lodged at Patiala Jail in connection with attempt to murder his wife Reena, had come in contact with Bhoora and hatched a conspiracy with him to eliminate Jain over business rivalry. “Then Bhoora contacted Sushil Fauji, who was posted at Military Regiment 105AD, Ambala, to execute the killing plan. Fauji arranged the ‘supari’ killers, Neeraj, alias Bawa from village Atta (Uttar Pradesh); Ajay, alias Happy from Meerut; and Naresh from Noida. Madhok’s father Mahavir had given the ‘supari’ amount to Bhoora’s accomplices in three instalments. Bhoora is already facing at least 17 cases of heinous crime, including dacoity and murder. “Bawa and Happy, too, are notorious criminals.

Killers’ arrest pre-empts two murders, kidnapping of advocate

According to SSP Chahal, with the arrest of these ‘supari’ killers, they have prevented at least two murders and kidnapping of a renowned advocate of Ambala. “After a failed attempt, the gang was again conspiring to kill Hira and Reena before being nabbed. They confessed that they were also conspiring to kidnap a renowned advocate for ransom,” said the SSP.

Bizman-turned-criminal

Doubt on his wife’s character and business rivalry pushed this businessman into crime, said the police. Rohit Madhok, who had allegedly opened fire on his wife Reena last year, was arrested and sent to Patiala Jail. Before that Madhok was dealing in mobile phones and facilitated loans to his customers. His shop was just opposite victim Ajay Jain’s shop, who was in the same business. “Following business rivalry, Madhok had conspired with Bhoora at Patiala Jail and got Jain murdered through ‘supari’ killers. He was shifted to Ropar Jail. There he hired assassins to eliminate Hira and his wife Reena,” said the police. Now, a murder case and two cases of attempt to murder have been registered against Madhok.