A 24-year-old man, suspected to be a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and wanted for the murder of a daily wage labourer last year, was held by police after a gunfight on the Gurugram-Tauru Road at 5.40am on Wednesday, police said.
The spot where the encounter took place on the Gurugram-Tauru road near Bar Gujjar village in Gurugram on Wednesday. (HT Photo)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
Police identified the accused as Saurabh alias Sandu, of Charkhi Dadri, who was injured in the gunfight. A countrymade pistol and five cartridges were recovered from him.
Varun Dahiya, assistant commissioner of police (crime), said they were tipped off around 4.30am about the suspect’s movement. “Around 5.40am, a checkpoint was set up in Bar Gujjar village, towards Tauru, in Nuh. Teams saw a man coming towards them on a motorbike, and when they signalled him to stop, he tried to flee and opened fire at the police. Despite warnings from the police to surrender, the suspect took cover behind a tree and continued firing,” he said.
Saurabh alias Sandu in hospital. (HT Photo)
Sandu is a suspect in the murder of a daily wage labourer, who was shot dead inside a liquor shop in Manesar on June 16, 2023. Police said Sandu is a close associate of Lipin Nehra and a member of the Bishnoi gang, adding that he was involved in at least two dozen criminal cases in Gurugram, Dadri and Rohtak.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
Dahiya said that in the gunfight, officer Lalit Kumar of the crime team was hit by a bullet, but was saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
Dahiya said that in the gunfight, officer Lalit Kumar of the crime team was hit by a bullet, but was saved as he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
{{/usCountry}}
Sandu fired five rounds at the police, and the police retaliated with four rounds of fire, with Sandu suffering a bullet injury to his leg. “The police immediately took him to Gurugram Civil Hospital, from where he was referred to PGIMS in Rohtak,” Dahiya said.
A case was registered against the suspect under sections 332, 353,186 and 307 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 25(1B) of the Arms Act at the Kherki Daula police station on Wednesday.
Police said the suspect was involved in another murder in Rohtak, besides six other incidents of murder and dacoity in Dadri, Jhajjar and Rohtak.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
“The suspect is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital and upon his recovery, he will be arrested. He will be thoroughly interrogated about his involvement in other incidents and details of his associates,” Dahiya said.
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.
Catch every big hit, every wicket with Crickit, a one stop destination for Live Scores, Match Stats, Infographics & much more. Explore now!.
