Double murder accused shot dead in encounter near KMP Expressway

A joint team of the Special Unit for Anti-Gangster (SUAG), Sector-7, and the Crime Unit (West) of the Sonepat police on Sunday neutralised a wanted criminal during an encounter near the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway in the Kharkhoda area. His associate, however, managed to escape from the spot.

The deceased has been identified as Shubham, a resident of Chhapar village in Karnal district. According to Narender Kadyan, DCP Crime, Shubham was wanted in a double murder case involving the killing of a man and his son in the Kharkhoda area on October 24. “Shubham was wanted in a double murder case… the police team achieved a success in the case,” the senior officer said.

In his complaint to the Kharkhoda police, Budhram of Gopalpur stated that his son Dharambir and grandson Mohit were travelling to the Sonepat court for a hearing on a motorcycle when they were intercepted near the Thana Kalan flyover. He alleged that a group of miscreants in a black Scorpio hit their motorcycle, after which Rahul, Manish and others fired at them from close range, killing both on the spot. Acting on the complaint, the police registered a case and launched an investigation.

So far, the police have arrested five accused — Devraj alias Deepak, Rohit, Rahul and Karan — while efforts were underway to trace the remaining suspects. An SIT had been constituted to crack the case and apprehend the accused still at large.

On Sunday, the police received a tip-off that Shubham and Manish, both wanted for the double murder, were in the Kharkhoda area and planning to commit a major crime. Acting swiftly, the SUAG team led by Inspector Ajay Dhankar, along with officials from the Crime Unit (West), surrounded the duo, who were on a motorcycle near the KMP Expressway.

Upon spotting the police, the suspects opened fire. The police retaliated, during which Shubham sustained bullet injuries on his leg, stomach and chest and collapsed on the road. His associate Manish managed to flee during the exchange.

Shubham was rushed to the civil hospital in Kharkhoda and later referred to PGIMS, Khanpur, where he succumbed to his injuries.

ADGP Mamta Singh, Commissioner of Police, said the police team had secured a major breakthrough in the double murder case. She said, “One of the accused succumbed to his injuries while one has managed to run away. The teams are making efforts to nab the other accused also.”