OF THE three suspected shooters, two — Dharmaraj Kashyap who has been arrested and Shivkumar Gautam who’s on the run — have been from the identical village in Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh and had no prison historical past, police stated. The third, Gurmail Singh, from Kaithal district of Haryana, was arrested in a homicide case in 2019.
Police on Sunday named a fourth suspect, Mohammad Zeeshan Akhtar (22), alias Mohammad Yaseen Akhtar, a resident of Nokodar in Punjab’s Jalandhar district, who additionally has a prison document, and is suspected to have hyperlinks with gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.
Based on Haryana police, Singh (25), who’s among the many two nabbed to this point, was arrested earlier for killing a distant relative. He was accused of conspiring with one other individual named Ashok to kill the latter’s brother, Sunil, on Could 31, 2019. Each Singh and Ashok have been arrested and lodged in Kaithal’s jail.
Police stated Singh is suspected to have are available contact with some members of the Rohit Godara gang throughout his keep within the jail. Godara is taken into account an in depth aide and key member of the Bishnoi gang.
Singh was later launched on bail, and moved to Mumbai, police stated.
At her house in Narar village of Kaithal, Singh’s grandmother, Phulli Devi (80), stated they’d disowned him practically a decade in the past. “I don’t care whether or not he’s alive or useless. He has dedicated a sin by killing an individual. We’ve got nothing to do with him,” she stated.
“He was in jail for practically 4 years within the homicide case of his cousin. We don’t know who launched him from jail. His associates most likely received him launched,” she stated.
She stated Singh left house three-four months again, and there have been no cellphone calls from him since then. “He’s my grandson however I don’t have any hyperlink with him now. If he commits such crimes, we don’t have any relations with him,” she stated.
Whereas Singh misplaced his father, a labourer, when he was simply 9 months outdated, his mom died a number of months in the past. He doesn’t have any siblings, stated kinfolk.
The village sarpanch’s husband, Satish Dhiman, stated Singh was a part of a gaggle of native goons. Apart from the homicide case, he was additionally booked in an assault case in 2017, wherein he was later acquitted.
“We’re getting extra particulars about him. Thus far, no person from Mumbai Police has received in contact with me, however they could be in contact with the Haryana STF,” Rajesh Kalia, Kaithal Superintendent of Police (SP) advised The Indian Specific.
Jalandhar police stated Akhtar was named in a number of prison circumstances together with try and homicide, Arms Act violations, theft, extortion and harboring criminals. He was arrested in June 2022 throughout a police operation that led to the seize of 11 members of an inter-state gang backed by Bishnoi and one other gangster, Harvinder Ridha.
On the time, then Jalandhar (Rural) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Swapan Sharma had stated Akhtar was needed in a number of prison circumstances and had been absconding. He was reportedly launched in June this 12 months.
Following his launch, his whereabouts have been traced to Kaithal, the place he’s suspected to have met Singh, police stated. He’s then suspected to have travelled to Mumbai. Akhtar’s household is concerned within the building enterprise.
In UP, police stated the 2 suspects from Bahraich district had no prison historical past.
The household of Kashyap stated he left house about two months in the past to work in Pune. “We knew that he was working at a scrapyard, however do not know how he received concerned on this prison case. He solely had buddies within the village. We’ve got no clue how he turned entangled in such a critical crime,” his father advised The Indian Specific.
The youngest of 5 siblings, he had dropped out of faculty after Class 5. His father, who has a store within the village, stated he would assist out with the enterprise earlier than leaving for Pune.
The household learnt of his arrest when native police visited their house early within the morning. “For the previous 5 months, he had been urging us to let him go to Pune for work, as a few of his buddies have been incomes nicely there. After his persistent requests, we lastly allowed him to depart about two months in the past,” his father stated.
He stated Kashyap had talked about that he could be staying together with his buddy, Shivkumar Gautam, from the identical village.
“We’re sure that he would by no means have thought-about getting concerned in any prison actions. We urge the police to completely examine his involvement, as we can not imagine he could possibly be related to this homicide or every other crime,” he stated.
Rajnath Singh, Station Home Officer of Kaiserganj police station in Bahraich, confirmed that there have been no prison data towards the duo.
Shivkumar (20), who moved to Pune about three years in the past, is the eldest son of a labourer, Bal Kishan. He final visited house throughout Holi, stated his household.
His uncle, Santosh Gautam, stated Shivkumar had first gone to Pune with some buddies who have been already working there. He has three brothers and three sisters, and is single. “Bahraich police visited my home and picked up particulars about him,” he stated.
“We have been all stunned to listen to about their involvement. Each households are easy, and we’ve by no means heard of both of them misbehaving with anybody within the village,” stated the village head Zaibul Nisha’s son, advocate Hasnain Kamal.
“We’ve got by no means seen any of their buddies from outdoors the village,” stated Ali Hasan, a villager.
