Chandigarh realtor’s murder suspects 'bagged' after gunfight in Haryana

CHANDIGARH/JIND: Despite a citywide dragnet after the sensational murder of a realtor in the heart of Chandigarh on Wednesday, the two gunmen managed to cross the city and Punjab borders and slip into Haryana, where they were cornered and caught after a gunfight around noon on Thursday, almost exactly 24 hours after the murder.

The suspects — Rajan alias Piyush Pehalwan, a resident of Ferozepur, and Pritam Shah from Nawanshehr, Punjab — were tracked to a village in Haryana's Kaithal district in a joint operation by Punjab and Haryana police, thanks partly to a very distinctive bag they held onto during their escape.

Surrounded by police, they allegedly began shooting and were injured in retaliatory gunfire, said an officer. Shot in the legs, both of them have been hospitalised.

Three semi-automatic pistols and ammo were seized from them. The bag, with a shop's name prominently stamped across it, was found in the hideout. CCTV had captured it slung from their getaway motorcycle, and they had lugged it along during their escape, giving police an eye-catching clue to look for in CCTV footage along highways.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said the state's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), in coordination with Karnal STF (Haryana) arrested the two shooters of gangster Lucky Patial of Bambiha gang for the murder of Chamanpreet Singh alias Chini Kubaheri in Chandigarh on March 18.

Rajan was also wanted for the high-profile murder of Yadwinder Singh, a driver of Jiwanjot Singh alias Jugnu (given clean chit by police in the Sidhu Moose Wala murder case), the DGP said. He had illegally slipped back into India from Malaysia via Nepal, say police, adding that both suspects are history-sheeters.

Chamanpreet was leaving after a workout at a popular gym in Sector 9 around noon on Wednesday when he was riddled with bullets. He was in the driver's seat of his Fortuner when a gunman fired seven bullets from the passenger side window and six more, face to face, at point-blank range. The 31-year-old died on the spot.

The gunman, who wore a red T-shirt and full-face helmet, hopped on a waiting motorcycle and sped off towards Mohali, Punjab. Police managed to get CCTV footage of their escape, tracking them through Sector 42 and Mohali. They had clear helmet visors, and cameras captured their faces.

The murder — on Chandigarh's busiest road — rattled the city. AGTF launched ‘Op Silent Trigger' to nab the accused. Several teams of Punjab Police went in pursuit. Haryana cops also joined the chase.

The getaway motorcycle was found abandoned in Banur, around 22km south of Mohali and an hour's drive from the murder site. The investigation gained momentum.

According to police sources, ATGF and Haryana STF received intelligence that the accused were hiding in a hut in Chausala village, some 20km from Kaithal. Teams from both states launched a joint operation and surprised them in their hideout.

Ordered to surrender, they began firing, forcing police to retaliate, said an officer. Both of them were hit. No policeman was injured in the encounter. Two .30 calibre pistols, including a Turkish PX5 and a Chinese-made one, and a .32 calibre pistol were seized from the duo.

The suspects were immediately admitted to a hospital in Kalayat, 8km away. They underwent surgery for their bullet wounds. Doctors have said they are out of immediate danger, said an officer.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were provided shelter by Sahil, a Chausala resident. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway, said police.