Morni murders: Two weeks on, cops fail to nab shooters

Two weeks have passed since the triple murder took place outside the Sultanat resort on the Morni Road here but the police are yet to arrest the killers.

Around 2:30 am on the night of December 23, Vinit Gahlot, alias Vicky Mitrau, a gangster with ties to the Manjeet Mahal gang, was killed by two assailants as he stepped out of the resort after attending a birthday party. His 17-year-old nephew, Tirath, who rushed to save him, was also shot dead by the assailants. The third victim, 22-year-old Vandana, was also hit by a bullet on the chest.

The police investigation has revealed that the assailants, identified as Sahil and Vijay from Najafgarh, were both linked to the Kapil Sangwan gang, also known as the Nandu gang. The murder is believed to be the latest in a series of violent clashes between the Manjeet Mahal gang and the Sangwan gang, both of which are involved in criminal activities across Haryana, Delhi NCR and Uttar Pradesh. Vicky’s name had appeared in numerous cases of murder, dacoity and violations of the Arms Act.

The assailants used .32 bore and 9 mm firearms. They allegedly fired into the air before fleeing the spot. The police later recovered the getaway vehicle from Bathinda Railway Station.

Vicky was clearly the main target. Vandana, a student and native of Uchana Kalan in Haryana, had no known connection to Vicky or his criminal world. She was simply a guest at the party.

Kapil Sangwan, the UK-based gangster behind the Nandu gang, was also implicated earlier this year for the murder of INLD leader Nafe Singh Rathi. Rathi was killed in February when gunmen ambushed his vehicle in Jhajjar, Haryana.