Panipat liquor contractor attacked, 1 assailant shot

Tribune News Service

Panipat, December 20

Members of a gang on Saturday night fired at a liquor contractor near Noorwala in Panipat city. During the crossfire, an assailant was shot dead. The liquor contractor and another person sustained serious injuries.

The deceased has been identified as Manish alias Mukhia (25) of Goela Khera village in Bapoli area of the district. Liquor contractor Ajeet alias Jeeta of Khalila Prahaladpur village and his driver Sagar of Juan village of Sonepat district sustained bullet injuries.

Surender, younger brother of the liquor contractor in his statement to the police, said that his brother has a liquor vend at Noorwala area.

He along with his brother Ajeet, driver Sagar, gunman Dilbagh and Aman, a bouncer of Juan village, went to the liquor vend at Noorwala on Saturday evening in a car. When they were getting ready to return at around 8.30 pm, 4-5 youths from Noorwala side came there and opened fire at them, he added.

Ajeet sustained a bullet injury on his shoulder. He opened fire with his licensed weapon at the assailants. Aman also opened fire on the assailants with a gun. After being hit by a bullet, a youth fell down. The others managed to flee from the spot, he added. Meanwhile, driver Sagar also sustained a bullet injury. Ajeet also received bullet injuries on his chest and shoulder.

Then, Surender got his brother and driver admitted in a private hospital where they are unconscious.

He further alleged that gangster Person alias Lambu of Sewah village and Rakesh alias Raku of Lakhu Buana have attacked him and his brother through members of their gang.

The primary inquiry revealed that Lambu gang had demanded extortion from the liquor contractor around three years ago, said Inspector Kamaljeet, SHO, Sector 13/17.

But Ajeet had refused to give extortion money. The gang had attacked him twice earlier — in 2018 and December 2019, the SHO said. Lambu was arrested in both the previous cases and he is in jail presently. Manish, who was shot dead on Saturday, was recently released from jail and had a criminal record, he said. A case has been registered against Person and Rakesh, he added.