Kabaddi player's murder: Panchkula police struggle to nab prime accused

Time of India

6 days ago

Panchkula: After Morni road gangster attack incident killing three in December, Panchkula Police is now struggling to arrest three accused, including prime accused Piyush Piplani, in yet another sensational murder of national Kabaddi player Sonu Nolta in Pinjore a fortnight ago.
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In December, three persons, including a gangster and a girl, were fatally shot in the parking lot of a hotel on Morni Road, Burj Kotian, none of the accused were arrested by the district police. Only an escapee car was recovered abandoned in Bathinda. Later, the Delhi police arrested the accused in different criminal cases from various locations in some other case.
In the present case, the district police recovered the car abandoned near PGI.
One co-accused, Sameer Khan, who was living in the Saini Mohalla area of Pinjore on rent, have been arrested. All three, including Piplani, remain away from the police's clutch.
"It is just a difference of a cup and lip. We are just falling short by about two days to catch the accused. They manage to get away from locations only two days before we raid. We are confident they will soon be nabbed," said confident Panchkula Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Srishti Gupta.
Eight special teams were deployed alongside the SIT to catch the miscreants. Initial police investigations revealed that Khan became acquainted with Piplani and later Ankush Solanki, both residents of Pinjore. With the intent of asserting dominance in the area, the trio, along with one other accused, allegedly conspired to murder Sonu, a local resident. The police stated that a total of four accused conducted a recce of the area using a Nexon car, and on the night of June 5, they ambushed Sonu, who came to watch a movie at Amravati Mall.
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They opened fire on him, leading to his death. As per police, Nitin alias Prince Rana, Sonu's cousin who sustained a bullet injury in the leg on the day of the incident, identified Khan as being present at the scene and involved in the shooting.
Does Panchkula need a dedicated anti-gangster squad?
With two recent shooting incidents in Panchkula involving a gangster angle and the cops yet to make headway, some feel a dedicated anti-gangster squad should be at play.
However, DCP Srishti Gupta said, "We have dedicated four crime branches and special investigation teams, which have very experienced police officials, and I am very much confident they are doing the best job. Since there is no gangster culture here like some other neighbouring districts, an anti-gangster cell is not needed in Panchkula."
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