Morni murders: 2 held for conducting recce at resort
The police have arrested two persons for allegedly conducting reconnaissance of a resort in Morni where a gangaster and two others were shot dead after a party on December 23 last year.
Sharing details, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP, Crime) Arvind Kamboj said the accused, Surendra Kumar, alias Sindi and Manoj, alias Jhabbal, were arrested by the Crime Branch’s Sector 19 team, led by Inspector Nirmal Singh.
Unidentified assailants had opened fire outside Sultanat Hotel in Burjkotia, killing three persons, including Vinit Gahlot, alias Vicky, his nephew Tirth and Vandana, aka Nia. Preliminary investigations had revealed that the victims had initially gathered at Bella Vista Hotel for a birthday party, but the venue was later shifted to Sultanat Hotel.
The authorities now believe that the assailants had conducted a thorough recce of both locations.
The arrested men, Sindi and Jhabbal, are suspected to have helped plan the killings by scouting out the locations. Investigators have traced their involvement through suspicious mobile phone records.
Vinit is believed to have ties to the Manjeet Mahal gang.
Believed to be the main target, he was shot dead as he stepped out of Sultanat Hotel around 2.30 am. His nephew, 17-year-old Tirath, rushed to save him and was shot in the process. The third victim, 22-year-old Vandana, was killed after being hit by a bullet in the chest.
The getaway vehicle which was used by the assialants was later recovered from the Bathinda Railway Station.
The police had earlier identified the alleged assailants as Sahil and Vijay, both linked to the Kapil Sangwan gang, also known as the Nandu gang. Despite these arrests, the main killers remain on the loose, and the police continue their efforts to nab them.
The gruesome crime is believed to be the latest in a series of violent incidents linked to the rivalry between the Manjeet Mahal and Kapil Sangwan gangs.
