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Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma's killers' trail goes cold in Maharashtra, Bishnoi gang may have helped escape to Nepal
More than a month after the brazen murder of prominent Abohar businessman, Sanjay Verma, the three shooters involved in the killing are still at large, with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang actively helping them evade the Punjab Police. Sanjay Verma, the 54-year-old textile businessman and co-owner of New Wear Well Gents Tailor showroom, was shot dead by three motorcycle-borne assailants near Bhagat Singh Chowk in Abohar on July 7. The killing sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab. A senior police officer said the Baba Siddique murder accused Shubham Lonkar was also helped by the Bishnoi gang to escape the police through the Nepal route. 'We are aware of the use of Nepal and even Bangladesh by the Bishnoi gang to help criminals make their getaway,' the officer added. A senior Fazilka Police officer, who did not want to be named, said that the pattern of deception adopted by the killers had made the task of investigating teams difficult, but assured they would be caught soon. The police have said that the absence of digital footprints, as the shooters avoided mobile phones, has further complicated the manhunt. So far, as many as seven suspects have been arrested, though the three main shooters — identified as Shakti from Azimgarh, Rajinder (alias Billa), and Jaskaran (alias Katta) — remain at large. 'No arrests, no accountability, no justice' Meanwhile, Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar criticised the Fazilka police for not issuing any information on the status of the investigation into the Sanjay Verma murder case. 'Apart from the fact that two persons connected with the killers were arrested from Madhya Pradesh and one person has been brought to Fazilka on remand from Maharashtra, nothing is known to us. There is no official briefing on the status of investigations by the police. AAP Supreme Arvind Kejriwal came and met the family, accompanied by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, but there has been no tangible progress on the ground,' he said. Leader of Opposition Partap Bajwa said even though Bhagwant Mann holds the reins as both CM and the Home Minister, the Sanjay Verma murder case exposes his government's complete failure. 'Two suspects have been killed under suspicious 'encounter' circumstances while the rest remain at large — no arrests, no accountability, no justice. This isn't incompetence; it's complicity. Punjab has become a playground for a gangster–politician–police nexus under the AAP's watch,' the Congress leader said. How the probe has progressed The Sanjay Verma murder case has highlighted concerns about organised crime and police tactics, with ongoing scrutiny of the July 8 encounter and calls for a transparent probe. The murder triggered protests by local trade associations, which demanded justice and enhanced security. Political leaders, including Jakhar, Bajwa, and Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal, criticised the AAP-led Punjab government for failing to curb rising crime, labelling it a 'collapse of law and order.' The Punjab Police formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) on July 12 to probe the case. The motive, potentially linked to extortion, is still under investigation, and the police are leveraging forensic evidence, CCTV analysis, and facial recognition to track the killers. Evidence suggests a possible international conspiracy, with Rs 1.4 lakh in foreign remittances traced to the Bikaner suspects' accounts. The police are also investigating an extortion threat Verma reportedly received before his death, with unconfirmed reports of a prior firing incident outside his residence. On July 7, the assailants fired multiple shots, with four shell casings from two different bores recovered at the scene. After their motorcycle skidded, the attackers abandoned it, stole another bike from a passerby, and later fled in a white Maruti Swift car. The Punjab Police sealed all entry and exit points of Abohar, launched a high-alert manhunt, and began analysing CCTV footage, which captured the assailants' escape and vehicle switch. Within 24 hours, the Fazilka police, along with the Anti-Gangster Task Force, arrested two suspects, Jaspreet Singh and Ram Ratan, who were allegedly involved in facilitating the shooters' escape. On July 8, during an alleged weapon recovery operation near Bahawalvasi Road, both suspects were killed in a controversial police encounter after their accomplices reportedly opened fire. A head constable, Maninder Singh, was injured. A magisterial probe was initiated to investigate the encounter, with the suspects' families demanding a CBI inquiry and widespread allegations of a fake encounter by Congress leaders. On July 11, three men — Inderpal Bishnoi, Sandeep Khichad, and Pawan Khichad — were arrested in Bikaner, Rajasthan, for providing shelter and financial support to the shooters. On July 17, Priyanjal Sharma and Anshuman Tiwari were apprehended in Shajapur, Madhya Pradesh, for supplying Rs 1.3 lakh to the shooters and aiding their escape. A social media post by Naveen Kumar, alias Aarzoo Bishnoi, an associate of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the murder. The police are verifying this claim, suspecting links to extortion rackets targeting local businessmen.
NDTV
08-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Opposition Raises Law And Order Question After Punjab Businessman Shot Dead
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government is facing a barrage of questions and the heat from the Opposition after a businessman was shot dead in Abohar in Fazilka district Monday. Sanjay Verma, a co-owner of the 'New Wear Well Gents Tailor' showroom, was shot dead near Bhagat Singh Chowk, a bustling commercial area in Abohar. He had just stepped out of his car near his showroom when he was shot several times. Blaming the Centre, AAP's Punjab chief and cabinet minister Aman Arora has claimed that the attacks are being orchestrated by criminals languishing in jails and the businessman of Abohar was one of the victims of jailed gangster conspiracies. Mr Arora accused the BJP-led Central Government of shielding Lawrence Bishnoi by keeping him in Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail and restricting his transfer. "Why AAP-led Chief Minister, who is also Home Minister of Punjab, not approaching any BJP-ruled state from where these gangsters are operating if the government is serious about maintaining law and order in the state," Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa told NDTV. Soon after the killing, a social media post had surfaced, in which someone claimed the responsibility for the killing. "Someone took responsibility. However, we will investigate whether this was done to confuse us... Initial investigation suggests three people were on a motorcycle; an update on their involvement will follow. CCTV footage and other materials assist us in solving the case," Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Ferozepur Range, Harmanbir Singh Gill, had told reporters. Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the law and order in Punjab has "plummeted to its lowest point." "The shocking daylight murder of Sanjay Verma, owner of The New Wear Well Tailors in Abohar, underscores the prevailing jungle raaj. Businessmen and professionals including doctors, artists & athletes are facing grave threats from extortionists," he said. "I strongly condemn this brutal killing and offer heartfelt condolences to the Verma family. The perpetrators must be arrested immediately and brought to justice," Mr Badal said further. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar said the killing was an "eerie reminder" of Punjab's law and order collapsing. "Deafening silence of the AAP Government after each such killing only emboldens the gangsters. CM Bhagwant Mann must tell Punjabis who is responsible for this blot on Punjab's name. Wake up, it's already too late," Mr Jakhar said on X. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. "CM @BhagwantMann must resign! Punjab's law and order is in shambles. The govt must hold a serious discussion on public safety in the upcoming Assembly session," Mr Bajwa said, adding, Punjab is being ruled by gangsters. The leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly also said, "This is not governance. This is complete lawlessness. @AAPPunjab has handed Punjab over to bullets and bloodshed." Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that Punjab was turning into a "gangland" under the Aam Aadmi Party's rule. Mr Warring also referred to the killing of a Moga doctor, Aniljit Kambhoj, to condemn the state's law and order. "... In both the incidents criminal gangs are suspected to be involved. What is the @PunjabPoliceInd doing? This calls for stringent action lest the situation gets completely out of control," Mr Warring said on X.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Punjab businessman shot dead in broad daylight, Bishnoi gang claims responsibility
Yet another incident of daylight shooting rocked Punjab after a textile businessman and social worker, Sanjay Verma, was gunned down by unidentified assailants in Abohar city on Monday morning, officials a co-owner of the 'New Wear Well Gents Tailor' showroom, was attacked around 10.15 am when he stepped out of his car near his shop. According to the police, Sanjay had just parked his car when a few miscreants came and opened fire on him. He died on the accounts and CCTV footage suggested that the three assailants initially tried to flee on their motorcycle after the shooting, but their bike skidded a short distance away. The killers then snatched another motorcycle from a passerby and managed to escape. CCTV grabs showed the masked shooters roaming around the area before the attack and then fleeing the scene in a was rushed to the local civil hospital but was declared brought dead by doctors. His body has been sent for a post-mortem. A large crowd of relatives, friends, and locals gathered outside the mortuary as news of the killing spread, sparking outrage and panic among the local business Aarzoo Bishnoi, a close confidant of jailed Lawrence Bishnoi and his brother Anmol Bishnoi, has claimed responsibility for Verma's murder in a social media post. Police are verifying the claim and its possible links to extortion rackets targeting local MLA Amandeep Singh Goldy visited the hospital soon after the incident to meet the bereaved family and express his condolences. In response to the murder, several trade associations have called for a complete shutdown of markets on Monday, demanding swift justice and better security for have sealed all entry and exit points of the town and sounded a high alert across the region. A massive search operation is underway, with multiple CCTV feeds being scanned to identify the attackers and track their escape the BJP attacked the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling it complete collapse of law and order in the border state."The broad day light murder in Abohar is yet another eerie reminder that Punjab's Law and Order has totally collapsed. Deafening silence of the AAP Government after each such killing only emboldens the gangsters. CM Bhagwant Mann must tell Punjabis who is responsible for this blot on Punjab's name. Wake up, it's already too late," Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar wrote in a post on X.- Ends(With inputs from Surinder Goyal.)
