The individuals implicated in one of Chandigarh’s most audacious daylight murders managed to evade authorities for hours following the execution of a chemist shop cashier in a bustling Sector 11 market. Their escape route, spanning nearly 500 kilometers across multiple states and utilizing public transport alongside a stolen motorcycle, ultimately led them to Jammu and Kashmir before they were apprehended by the Chandigarh Police in a meticulously orchestrated interstate manhunt.
This startling escape path, reconstructed through diligent examination of CCTV footage, hotel records, and technical surveillance, has emerged as a significant revelation in the ongoing investigation into the June 13 murder of 45-year-old cashier Janki Das. Das was fatally shot inside Shree Kumar Medical Shop amidst escalating fears of gangster-linked extortion. Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that the accused arrived in Chandigarh on a stolen motorcycle bearing a Punjab registration number, carried out the brazen daylight attack, and then discreetly exited the city via Sector 43. From there, they allegedly boarded a bus bound for Delhi, subsequently traveling by train to Jammu and Kashmir in an apparent bid to elude detection.
The disclosure sheds critical light on how the assailants managed to slip away despite the city’s intensive naka checking and surveillance infrastructure. This raises pertinent questions regarding the efficacy of real-time interception mechanisms, even as investigators assert they have resolved the case within days. According to police accounts, the breakthrough materialized after investigators dedicated considerable time to scrutinizing hundreds of CCTV feeds, tracing various transport routes, and analyzing technical evidence gathered across Chandigarh, Punjab, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir. The operation culminated in the arrest of the alleged principal shooter, Sunny Mehra, 22, from Samba district, and the alleged motorcycle rider, Aryan Sharma, 19, from Rajouri district, in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening. A third accused, Amit Kumar of Samba district, remains at large. Police officials stated that the arrests were facilitated through coordinated raids executed by teams from the Crime Branch, Operations Cell, District Crime Cell, and the Sector 11 police station.
The case took a dramatic turn hours after the arrests when the accused were being transported to Chandigarh under transit remand. Police reported that their vehicle was involved in an accident behind Panjab University in the early hours of Thursday. During the incident, one of the accused allegedly attempted to escape after gaining access to a service weapon that had fallen during the impact. According to the official police narrative, the accused fired upon the police party, prompting retaliatory firing in self-defense. Both arrested accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were subsequently transferred to the Government Multi-Speciality Hospital in Sector 16, where they are currently receiving treatment. Separate legal proceedings have been initiated concerning this post-arrest incident.
While the arrests represent a significant breakthrough for investigators, police officials have indicated that the broader conspiracy remains the central focus of their inquiry. The murder gained national attention after Canada-based gangster Goldy Dhillon claimed responsibility through social media posts and audio messages. Dhillon alleged that the intended targets were the “Kumar Brothers” and issued a warning to traders against engaging with rival criminal groups. Investigators are now actively examining whether the killing was intended as a targeted extortion message to Chandigarh’s business community and if it is connected to a pattern of similar threats that emerged in the same market area in 2018. Sources suggest that investigators are poised to question the arrested individuals extensively regarding their handlers, logistical support, funding channels, and communication networks that facilitated the operation.
Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda emphasized that the arrests signify only the initial phase of the investigation, with the police force now concentrating on unraveling the larger criminal network behind the murder. “The swift identification and arrest of the accused across multiple states reflects the professional and coordinated efforts of Chandigarh Police,” Dr. Hooda stated to The Tribune. “However, our objective extends beyond apprehending the shooters. We are committed to identifying every individual involved in planning, facilitating and financing this crime. Any organised criminal or extortion network attempting to operate in Chandigarh will be pursued relentlessly and dealt with firmly in accordance with law.”
The detailed reconstruction of the accused individuals’ movements has provided investigators with crucial leads, but it has also underscored the formidable challenges posed by modern interstate criminal networks. These networks are capable of executing targeted killings, moving rapidly across jurisdictional boundaries, and employing multiple modes of transport to evade capture. For the Chandigarh Police, these arrests offer a vital breakthrough in a case that had significantly shaken public confidence following the perpetrators’ audacious actions.
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.
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