Sonepat: Powerlifter’s murder accused held after six-month manhunt

Nearly six months after the shocking murder of a 20-year-old powerlifter in Sonepat, the police have finally arrested the prime accused, Kuldeep alias Bholu, who was found hiding in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

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The accused, a resident of Ridhau village in Sonepat district, had fled the city immediately after allegedly shooting Vansh, a BA second-year student and powerlifting enthusiast, in broad daylight in Pragati Nagar colony on February 9.

The Sonepat police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to Kuldeep's arrest earlier this month. On receiving a tip-off that he was staying in the Loni area of Ghaziabad, a CIA-1 team led by Inspector Bir Singh conducted a late-night raid on Sunday and arrested him.

According to police, Vansh, who lived in Vikas Nagar on Kakroi Road, had gone to Pragati Nagar to buy a mobile data cable. When he parked his motorcycle in the street, an altercation broke out with Kuldeep over parking space. In a sudden escalation, Kuldeep allegedly pulled out a pistol from his car and fired four to five rounds at Vansh, killing him on the spot.

Two sisters known to Vansh, who tried to intervene, were also reportedly threatened by the accused.

Immediately after the incident, Kuldeep fled the area along with his family and locked his house to evade arrest.

"Despite regular efforts, the accused remained absconding for months. It was only after the reward was declared that actionable leads started coming in," said a police official.

Kuldeep has a prior criminal record with two cases already registered against him at the Civil Lines and Kharkhoda police stations. He was produced before the court on Monday and remanded to five days in police custody.