Gang war angle emerges in Amravati mall murder

The murder of transporter Sonu Naulta has taken a new turn. One of the prime accused, Piyush Piplani, posted another video on the social media declaring that the killing was not personal, but a pre-emptive strike in an ongoing gang rivalry.

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In the video, Piplani claimed that Naulta was getting close to the rival Bhupi Rana gang and fearing betrayal, he and his associates decided to eliminate him before “he could conspire and target any of ours.” Naulta’s cousin, Prince, who was admitted to the PGI with a bullet wound, had identified the assailants as Piplani and Ankush.

Piplani also reiterated that the killing was carried out with full support from Anmol Bishnoi and his jailed brother Lawrence Bishnoi. This is the second time the accused has publicly claimed responsibility and boasted about backing from well-known criminal syndicates. The video, filmed in a moving vehicle, mirrors the earlier one shared shortly after the murder on June 6 outside Amravati Mall in Panchkula. Naulta was shot dead point blank.

Meanwhile, the Panchkula police are yet to make any arrests in the case. While two people have been detained for questioning, the primary accused — Piplani and Ankush — are at large.

The mention of the Bhupi Rana gang in the video provides context to the motive and suggests that Naulta was seen as a growing threat by the Bishnoi syndicate. The case signals the growing footprint of gang networks in Haryana, particularly in Panchkula district.

Bhupinder Singh Rana, alias Bhupi Rana, gang is also known for extortion murder and kidnapping. Rana and Bishnoi are rival gangs, Last year, a module of the Lawrence Bishnoi-Goldy Brar gang was busted by the Chandigarh Police with the arrest of three of their men for an attempt to shoot Rana at Chandigarh District Courts.

The Bishnoi gang is known for doing a thorough recce before carrying out strikes against their rivals. This time also, both assailants, Piyush Piplani and Ankush, were present outside Amravati Mall at the right time to shoot Naulta on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, the police said raids and tracking operations were being carried out across Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh to nab the assailants.