Chandigarh Police have identified three individuals believed to be responsible for the fatal shooting of an employee at Kumar Medical Hall in Sector 11, an incident that has prompted a broad, multi-state search operation. Sources indicate that two of the identified suspects hail from Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir, although the identity of the third accused remains undisclosed by authorities. The investigation is being spearheaded by specialized units including the Crime Branch, District Crime Cell (DCC), and the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), which are actively conducting raids across Punjab and Delhi in an effort to apprehend the perpetrators.
Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the violence may extend beyond this single incident, with reports of threats being issued to two additional chemist shop owners in Sector 11 and one businessman in Sector 19. However, the Chandigarh Police have not officially confirmed these claims. The accused were last known to be in Khajeri village within Chandigarh, where police questioned an auto-rickshaw driver and a garment shop owner who had interacted with them. The auto-rickshaw driver reportedly transported the suspects to Khajeri, where they purchased clothing.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that the accused are believed to be regular visitors to Chandigarh, and police are exploring the possibility of local contacts assisting them. The escape route of the assailants has also been meticulously reconstructed. Following the shooting, the trio fled on a motorcycle, which had been stolen from Tarn Taran. They abandoned the stolen bike in the parking area of a Sector 3 park before taking an auto-rickshaw to Khajeri village. After spending a few hours in the area and purchasing additional clothing, they are believed to have departed the city by bus, heading towards a neighboring state.
The attack on Janki Das, a cashier at Shri Kumar Medical Hall and a native of Shimla’s Rohru, involved the firing of thirteen rounds. The crime scene was notably situated just a few meters from a police check-post, raising questions about the audacity of the perpetrators. The motive behind the killing remains unclear, though investigators suspect it may be linked to extortion attempts aimed at instilling fear among city traders. This suspicion is further fueled by an audio message released on social media by the Goldy Dhillon gang, which warned of repercussions for those supporting the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
The accused are believed to have traversed through several cities in Punjab en route to Delhi after leaving Chandigarh. Police teams are conducting extensive raids at numerous locations in an effort to locate and apprehend them. The incident has also prompted discussions regarding security for traders, with a meeting between Chandigarh traders and DGP Sagar Preet Hooda reportedly taking place to address concerns. The investigation into the Kumar Medical Hall killing is ongoing, with authorities working to unravel the full extent of the criminal network involved and their ultimate objectives.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.