Wrestler shot dead in Sonepat village

A 35-year-old wrestler, Rakesh from Sohti village, was shot dead at a Mahashivratri fair in Kundal village, Kharkhoda, on Wednesday. The assailants, identified as Manoj alias Kala and his nephew Sahil, allegedly gunned him down over an old property dispute.

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Rakesh, who ran an akhara in Sohti Dham, lived with his family in Omaxe City, Rohtak. According to his uncle, Chand Singh, “We had a long-standing enmity with Manoj and his family over land. They had even attacked me last July and a case was registered against them.”

On Wednesday, Rakesh attended the dangal with his son Amrit and other wrestlers. As they were heading to their car after Amrit’s match, Manoj and Sahil approached them with pistols. “They fired multiple rounds, chasing Rakesh as he tried to escape. He collapsed on the road after sustaining several bullet injuries,” Chand Singh said.

The attack triggered panic at the fair, causing a stampede-like situation. Mehant Suryanath of Sohti Dham rushed Rakesh to a private hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Inspector Bir Singh, SHO, Kharkhoda, confirmed the murder, stating, “Initial investigations suggest the killing stemmed from a family property dispute. The assailants fired 8-9 rounds, inflicting 7-8 bullet wounds on the victim.”

Rakesh’s body was handed over to his family after a postmortem at BPS Medical College, Khanpur Kalan. “Teams are working to apprehend the accused,” the SHO added.