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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Panchkula: No Bishnoi link to kabaddi player's murder, say police
There has been no Bishnoi link in the murder of 21-year-old kabaddi player Sonu Nolta, deputy commissioner of police (crime) Amit Dahiya said on Monday. Only one of the four accused have been arrested so far. A day after murdering Nolta outside the mall at Amravati Enclave (Pinjore) on June 5, prime accused Piyush Piplani had reportedly created a fake Facebook account using the name of Arju Bishnoi (misspelling Arzoo Bishnoi who is believed to have links with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi) to post a video claiming responsibility for the murder with Arju Bishnoi's help, the DCP said. He even mentioned Berlin (Germany) as his location to mislead the police. He used that Facebook account only for a day, the police said. According to the police, Piplani's motive was to gain popularity by falsely associating himself with notorious gangsters, like Anmol Bishnoi and Arzoo Bishnoi. In the video, Piplani had claimed that Nolta had been supporting gangster Bhuppi Rana and his associates. According to the police, had such gangs been genuinely involved, they would have claimed the murder responsibility directly. Further investigation revealed that Piplani had three mobile phones at the time of committing the crime. While fleeing in a car, he threw two phones away, keeping only one to record the video. He had purchased two new SIM cards days before the crime. Four persons were present in the car at the crime scene, out of whom only one — Sameer Khan — has been arrested while the rest are at large. The police also said that during their escape, a bullet accidentally fired from the pistol of the fourth person in the car struck Piplani's hand. Piplani, who was driving the car, didn't seek treatment and wrapped his wound with a handkerchief. Bloodstains were later found on both the front and back seats of the vehicle that was found abandoned at the PGI. From PGI, Piplani and Ankush took an auto to the ISBT-43 while Sameer Khan and the fourth person were captured on CCTV cameras heading towards the Chandigarh railway station. Police confirmed that barring Sameer, all were carrying weapons. Police investigations further revealed that Sameer Khan knew Sonu Nolta. Just to confirm Sonu's presence in his car, Khan reportedly stepped out and greeted him, signaling Piplani who then opened fire, killing Sonu and injuring his cousin Nitin alias Prince (20) with a bullet wound to his thigh. DCP Amit Dahiya further said the delay in apprehending the remaining accused was due to non-usage of mobile or social media by them. Police teams are actively searching hotels, guest houses and drug de-addiction centres as Piplani is said to be an addict. His old associates are also being questioned. The fourth accused remains unidentified but is described as a fluent in Punjabi. His picture has been circulated to police stations across Punjab. Police teams have already been dispatched to various locations in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to trace the culprits.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Kabaddi player's murder: Panchkula police struggle to nab prime accused
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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." Eom.. MSID:: 121933318 413 |
