Wanted gangster held after gunfight with police in Gurugram: Officials

Sandu, 24, is a close associate of Lipin Nehra and a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said police, adding that he was involved in at least two dozen criminal cases registered in Gurugram

Updated on: May 8, 2024, 13:59:00 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

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Gurugram: The Gurugram police on Wednesday morning arrested a wanted gangster involved in the murder of a daily wage labourer last year, officials said.

Saurabh alias Sandu was arrested after an exchange of fire with the police on Gurugram-Tauru Road on Wednesday morning, officers aware of the matter said, adding that the suspect was injured in the gunfight.

Police said that a countrymade pistol and cartridges were recovered from the suspect.

Sandu was a suspect in the murder of a wage labourer who was shot dead inside a liquor shop in Manesar on June 16, 2023, said police.

Sandu, 24, is a close associate of Lipin Nehra and a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said police, adding that he was involved in at least two dozen criminal cases registered in Gurugram, Dadri and Rohtak.

Varun Dahiya, assistant commissioner of police (crime), said they received a tip-off regarding his presence near Bar Gujjar village on Gurugram-Tauru Road.

“Two crime teams of Manesar and Sector 31 were deployed on the stretch and saw the suspect coming on his motorcycle. They signalled for him (Sandu) to stop, but he started firing at police teams,” Dahiya said.

Sandu fired several rounds at the police team and vehicle. In the exchange of fire, one bullet hit Sandu in the leg.

“The police team immediately caught hold of him and took him to Gurugram Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to PGIMS Rohtak,” said Dahiya.

On the night of June 16, 2023, at a liquor shop in Panchgaon Chowk, Gurugram, some criminals opened fire indiscriminately, resulting in the death of a daily wage labourer who came to purchase liquor. Several raids were conducted over the months to arrest Sandu, who was evading arrest following the incident, said police.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More