Gounder worked for Cong leader:Kin

Tribune Reporters

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Muktsar/jalandhar, Jan 30

Vicky Gounder’s family today alleged that he once worked for senior Congress leader and former minister Avtar Henry. They alleged that Gounder entered into the world of crime after killing a man with whom Henry’s Jalandhar-based firm had a financial dispute.

Gounder’s father Mehal Singh and maternal uncle Gurbhej Singh alleged: “Vicky had killed a man in Jalandhar over the collection of money for Henry’s finance company. He was in sports college at that time. Later, when Gounder was arrested in Tarn Taran, Henry had gone to meet him in a Jalandhar court. Henry also went to meet him in Nabha jail twice before the state elections. Some people like Sukha Kahlwan and others were also in Henry’s contact.”

Henry, however, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Speaking on the phone, he said: “The family is concocting a false story. I had never met Gounder or Sukha Kahlwan. I don’t even own any finance company. I am a transporter like many others, but it doesn’t mean I have connections with gangsters.”

Meanwhile, Henry's estranged son Gurjeet Sanghera and former BJP MLA KD Bhandari have sought a CBI probe in the matter. Sanghera claimed that he had sought security from Henry's musclemen, while he was fighting a case against his father. "Henry is still patronising a cousin of Lahoria," he alleged. Bhandari, too, alleged that Henry had links with Lahoria.

Gounder’s bhog on Feb 3, police on toes

Muktsar: The "bhog" ceremony of slain gangster Vicky Gounder at his native Sarawan Bodla village in Lambi on February 3 has the police on their toes. The family is reportedly making arrangements for nearly 3,000 people. Further, a message is being circulated on social media urging people to contact Gounder's uncles in case the police stopped anyone from reaching the "bhog" venue at focal point in the village. Jagdish Singh Pappu, paternal uncle of Gounder, said: "The police had issued challans to nearly 50 vehicles on Vicky's cremation on Sunday. They had even stopped milk supply to our residence." Sushil Kumar, SSP, Muktsar, said: "Adequate security arrangements will be made in the village to prevent any untoward incident.” TNS

Rajasthan police quiz Punjab officials 

Abohar: A special investigation team (SIT) of the Rajasthan Police has initiated investigation into the encounter in which noted gagsters Vicky Gounder, Prema Lahoria and their aide Sawinder Singh were shot dead. The trio was killed in the house owned by the family of Lakhwinder Singh Lakha at Pakki village in Sriganganagar on January 26. Sriganganagar SDM Yash Pal Ahuja has also initiated a magisterial inquiry. The investigation team, headed by ASP Surinder Singh Rathore, has started recording statements of Patiala-based CIA staff, who executed the encounter after giving an opportunity to the gangsters to surrender. Rathore confirmed having asked the Punjab Police to provide details of criminal cases in which the gangsters were involved. Sriganganagar SP Harinder Mahavar said it needed to be investigated why the gangsters chose the "dhani" located near the international border as a hideout. OC