20-year-old powerlifter shot dead in Haryana's Sonepat

A 20-year-old youth was shot dead in broad daylight in Pragati Nagar here on Sunday. The assailant managed to flee the scene with his family members, said officials.

The deceased identified as Vansh of Vikas Nagar, was a gold medalist in powerlifting.

According to officials, Vansh, a BA second-year student, had gone to meet his classmates in Pragati Nagar on Sunday afternoon. He parked his motorcycle at the corner of the street.

Later, a local named Kuldeep arrived in a car and began honking. However, when Vansh came out to move his motorcycle, Kuldeep allegedly started an altercation with him.

Vansh’s classmates, Akshita and Vanshika, also came out to stop the altercation, but the accused allegedly beat them.

Later, the accused took out a pistol from his car and opened fire on Vansh.

Sources said Kuldeep fired around four to five rounds on the victim and managed to flee along with his family members after locking his house.

Vansh was rushed to the civil hospital where he succumbed to his bullet injuries.

Vansh had won a gold medal in powerlifting at district level in 2023 and a silver medal in a national-level tournament in Delhi last year.

Senior police officials and a forensic team reached the spot for investigation.

ACP Rahul Dev said prima facie it seemed that the murder was a result of a sudden altercation over a parking issue.

The accused has been identified, and teams are conducting raids to apprehend him. A case has been registered against the accused, he added.