2 shooters in realtor’s killing in Chandigarh nabbed after Kaithal encounter

The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police, in a joint operation with the Special Task Force (STF), Haryana (Karnal unit), on Thursday arrested two shooters from Chausala village in Kaithal district for the murder of a property dealer in Sector 9, Chandigarh, after a brief exchange of fire in Kaithal.

Three sophisticated weapons were seized from their possession. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav identified the arrested accused as Rajan, alias Piyush Pehalwan, a resident of Ferozepur, and Pritam Shah, a resident of Nawanshahr. Three weapons — a .30 bore PX-5 pistol, a .30 calibre Chinese pistol and a .32 calibre pistol — and ammunition was recovered from them.

The STF detained one more accused, Sahil, of the same village for allegedly providing shelter to the shooters. The STF has registered a case. “An FIR is being registered under Sections 109 and 111 of the BNS, and the Arms Act on a complaint of an inspector of the AGTF, Punjab,” said Lalit Yadav, DSP, Kalayat.

Charanpreet Singh, alias Chini, was shot dead by two unidentified bike-borne assailants in Sector 9, Chandigarh, on Wednesday.

The police said the accused were key associates of fugitive gangster Lucky Patial of  the Bambiha gang. Preliminary investigation revealed that Rajan, alias Piyush Pehalwan, was also wanted in the high-profile murder of Yadwinder Singh, driver of Jiwanjot Singh, alias Jugnu.

The DGP claimed that the AGTF, Punjab, had unmasked the entire module and arrested the accused in less than 30 hours.

After the incident, the Chandigarh Police had identified the bike-borne assailants. They fled Chandigarh within 12 minutes towards the Mohali side.

The AGTF launched “Ops Silent Trigger” under the supervision of DIG Gurmit Chauhan.

During the operation, the accused opened fire on a police team led by SP, AGTF, Bikramjit Singh Brar. In the retaliatory exchange, both accused sustained bullet injuries and were shifted to the Civil Hospital in Kaithal.

The accused were hiding in a house at Chausala village in Kaithal district. A joint team of the AGTF, Punjab, and the STF, Karnal, raided the site. After spotting the police team, they opened fire at the police in an attempt to evade arrest. Acting in self-defence, the police team fired back. Two shooters were apprehended. They received bullet injuries on their legs, said Inspector Deepender Rana, in-charge, STF, Karnal.

Initial interrogation has revealed that accused Piyush came from Malaysia via Nepal to execute the killing on the directions of his foreign-based handler.