Chandigarh pharmacy shooting: Two arrested in encounter in Sector 39; both accused injured

CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Crime Branch arrested two men wanted in connection with a firing at Sewak Pharmacy in Sector 32 after a brief encounter near the Paddy Market in Sector 39 early on Wednesday. The encounter occurred around 6 am. The accused, identified as Rahul and Rocky, sustained injuries and were admitted to GMSH-16 for treatment. Officials said the Crime Branch received a tip-off that the suspects were travelling in a car near the Paddy Market. Police set up a naka to intercept them. When the vehicle was signalled to stop, the accused allegedly fired at the police, who returned fire, injuring both men in their legs. No police personnel were hurt, said Dheeraj Kumar, DSP of the Crime Branch. Police recovered two pistols and the vehicle used by the accused at the scene. The Crime Branch had earlier arrested Rahul Bisht, a resident of Sector 46. Investigations revealed that Bisht ran a laboratory in Sector 32 with a policeman as a partner and later conspired to carry out the firing at the pharmacy. Reports said Tanish, the shop owner’s son, who was at the counter at the time, narrowly escaped and immediately informed his family. The shop owner, Jagdish of Sector 32, then reported the incident to the police. Teams from Sector 34 police station, the Crime Branch, the Operation Cell, and the District Crime Branch arrived at the site. The forensic team recovered one empty cartridge. CCTV footage showed two youths arriving on an Activa scooter and fleeing after the firing, which helped identify the suspects. Police said interrogation of the arrested and injured men is ongoing. An intensive investigation is also underway into the role of the accused’s policeman partner and others linked to the gangster network. Authorities indicated that further arrests are likely.