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Five gatecrash private Lohri celebration in Sec 40, open fire; three injured, 1 held
Gurugram Three people were injured when five inebriated men allegedly gatecrashed a private Lohri celebration in Sector 40 on Monday night and fired at the gathering
Gurugram Three people were injured when five inebriated men allegedly gatecrashed a private Lohri celebration in Sector 40 on Monday night and fired at the gathering when they were questioned. One of the suspects has been arrested from Sector 22, the police said on Tuesday.
Muhammad Akil, the commissioner of police, said that all the suspects have been identified, and the four absconding members would be arrested soon. “The accused men gate crashed the Lohri function upon spotting a bar that was set up near the gate. They were already in an inebriated state and got angry when the host questioned them,” he said.
The arrested suspect, Jai Narayan (28) of Satna in Madhya Pradesh, is a history-sheeter, who was previously arrested in April 2017 for a day heist at the New Railway Road branch of a finance company. The police said that he, along with seven accomplices, had looted 32.5 kilograms of gold and cash, and was released on bail last December.
Narayan was also allegedly involved in loots in Manesar and Rewari in 2017, the police said.
Akil said that during questioning, Narayan revealed that he, along with four friends who are from Sonepat and Badli in Jhajjar, had come to Gurugram around 9.30pm from Delhi. “They had bought a bottle of liquor from a vend near Sahara Mall on MG Road and had no money left to eat. They were looking for a function where they could enter and have food,” he said.
The suspects were roaming the streets when they heard loud music and turned their car towards the Sector 40 service lane. “The suspects had no idea that liquor was being served. When they saw an open bar, they got excited and picked up a bottle,” said Akil.
According to the police, the incident took place around 11pm, when the complainant, Ajay Vats, and his family, were hosting a party, attended by 85 friends and relatives.
Akil said the suspects arrived in a white Scorpio and entered the house, where a tent was set up for the party at the entrance. “They were seen getting pictures clicked. Vats asked the photographer but he could not identify who they were. After checking with his friends and relatives, he approached the bar, where he saw them holding a liquor bottle. He asked who they were and tried to ascertain who had invited them to the party, when one of the suspects took out a pistol from his trouser pocket and shot at Vats’s brother. The bullet hit his right arm,” he said.
Those present at the location immediately called the police control room, following which a team from the station concerned reached the spot.
Vats, in his complaint to the police, said that when he asked the suspects their names, one of them pushed him. His brother, who was looking in their direction, came and caught hold of the suspect, following which his friends joined him and opened fire.
The police said that when the guests heard the gunshots, they rushed towards the bar corner and surrounded them. The suspects allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, hitting three people in all. The police suspect that more than eight gunshots were fired, but have only recovered three cartridges from the spot.
Akil said they fled the spot, but got stuck in the lane as cars were parked on both sides and there were more Lohri functions organised in the area. “The injured people were seated in a car and were about to be taken to the hospital when the suspects’ car, moving in reverse, rammed their vehicle. They had also rammed more than half dozen of cars that were parked in the lane.
Of the three injured persons, one has been discharged from the hospital, while the remaining two are undergoing treatment. The police are yet to record the statements of the injured.
The police said they had recovered the CCTV footage from six spots and identified the SUV within two hours. “Even the CCTV camera at the defunct Sirhaul toll plaza was recovered, as the suspects had fled to Delhi. After dropping the four suspects in Delhi, Narayan came to Gurugram, where he was arrested,” said Akil.
A case under sections 148 (unlawful assembly), 149 (common objective), 307 (attempt to murder), 427 (causing damage), 452 (trespassing) and several sections of the Arms Act were registered at the Sector 40 police station.
The police recovered one pistol, two live cartridges and the SUV from Narayan’s possession. He will be produced before the district and sessions court on Wednesday.
Akil said that the five suspects were also involved in a robbery with a truck driver at Jaffarpur Kalan three days ago, but were not identified. “The same SUV, which belongs to Ajeet, of Badli, the kingpin of the gang who has been jailed for more than 10 times, was used in the crime,” he said.
The excise officials are also investigating if the host had taken a liquor licence to host the party and how many bottles were procured for the same.
The police said that the officers who were able to speedily identify the vehicle and locate it to Delhi, thereby facilitating Narayan’s arrest, would be rewarded.
Officials involved in the investigation and execution will be rewarded by the police chief, said police.
On the other hand, the residents’ welfare association members said they have been requesting the residents to install CCTV cameras as they are helpful in identifying culprits in theft and in extreme cases, such as the drunk firing. “We have called for a meeting and will submit a list of CCTV cameras in the sector. We have also urged residents to install such CCTV cameras that can cover the maximum distance,” said RS Yadav, president Sector 40 RWA.
