Gangster shot at: Sonepat police search rival criminal’s house, recover weapons

Departmental inquiry against eight other Haryana Police personnel escorting gangster Ajay Barona from Rohtak jail to Sonepat court on Thursday

The Sonepat police on Saturday searched the locked house of dreaded criminal Ram Karan at Bayanpur village in district after accused cop, Mahesh Kumar confessed before the police that the criminal had provided him an illegal weapon and ₹50,000 in exchange for killing his rival gangster Ajay Barona.

Haryana Police constable Mahesh Kumar (centre) being taken to a court in Sonepat, where he was remanded in three-day police custody, on Friday. (Ht Photo)

Police have recovered one broken revolver, three magazine weapons (fire arms), one rifle, and over 600 live cartridges from Ram Karan’s home during a search operation, which was underway till filing of this report.

Besides, they also recovered ₹3 lakh in cash, Audi and Endeavour SUVs and some gold ornaments.

Sonepat city SHO Devender Kumar said that the accused cop has confessed that he attacked gangster Ajay while escorting him outside the Sonepat court complex on behest of Ram Karan.

“The accused cop said that the criminal had given him an illegal weapon (which was used in the crime) and ₹50,000 to kill Ajay Barona. We have taken search warrants from the court of chief judicial magistrate Saurabh Gupta. We recovered weapons and over 600 cartridges from Ram Karan’s house. He was planning to execute a major crime after coming out of jail on parole. We have registered a case under the Arms Act against Ram Karan, who is at large,” the SHO added.

Cop placed under suspension

The Haryana Police have placed constable Mahesh Kumar under suspension for shooting at gangster Ajay Barona while escorting him from the Rohtak jail to a Sonepat court on Thursday.

A departmental inquiry has been initiated against eight other police personnel who comprised the escort team.

Constable Mahesh fired three bullets at Ajay outside the Sonepat court, injuring him critically. He is battling for life at a private hospital in Rohtak.

Rohtak deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Sajjan Kumar said: “There was negligence on the part of the other policemen, too. We are ascertaining Mahesh’s track record.”

Mahesh is in three-day police remand since Friday.

Fallout of gang rivalry

Ajay is booked in 12 cases, including eight for murder. The rival Ram Karan gang that killed his gang’s leader Sandeep Badwasni is being blamed for the attack on him.

On Thursday, Ajay’s father Krishan Kumar was shot dead by 8-10 assailants, who barged into his house in Sonepat’s Barona village.

Sonepat superintendent of police (SP) Jashandeep Randhawa said the attacks on Ajay and his father were due to gang war. “We have come to know details after questioning the constable, but everything will be revealed once the probe is completed. Security has been tightened outside the gangster’s house,” he said.