3 of extortion gang nabbed in shootout in Gharaunda

Three persons, including two shooters of an extortion gang of Kaka Rana, were arrested by the CIA-2, Kurukshetra, after a shootout near Kaimla village in Gharaunda area on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

Both shooters received bullet injuries, while the third person sustained injuries after falling from their bike. They are undergoing treatment at Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC), said Inspector Mohan Lal, incharge, CIA-2, Kurukshetra.

The police recovered two pistols, besides the bike from them. The injured have been identified as Sandeep of Faridabad, Sandeep of Narnaund, both of whom sustained bullet injuries, and Hritik of Bhiwani, said inspector Mohan Lal.

He said the Kaka Rana gang was involved in making extortion calls and firing outside the office of an immigration agent at Sector 10 in Kurukshetra on October 23. Gang members also fired outside the shop of an arhtiya at the Kurukshetra grain market and outside the establishment of a businessman in Gharaunda on October 28. “In all three cases, a ransom of Rs 1 crore was demanded by the gang,” he added.

The Superintendent of Police, Kurukshetra, had formed teams to investigate the cases.

The teams started tracking the gang members and three persons were arrested earlier.

On a fresh tip-off regarding the presence of other gang members in Gharaunda, they started chasing them. On seeing the police team, the accused turned towards Garhi Multan village. Instead of surrendering, the gang members opened fire and two bullets hit the police vehicle. The police retaliated with gunshots, injuring two of the suspects in their legs. The third one sustained injuries after falling from his motorcycle," he added.

“The injured were rushed to KCGMC, where they are getting treatment under tight police surveillance. These criminals were planning a major crime in Gharaunda. The gang is notorious for extorting money from local traders through threat calls,” said Mohan Lal.

He claimed that the suspects were habitual offenders, having a record of cases involving firearms. “We are investigating their involvement in other cases,” he said.

Karnal Superintendent of Police Ganga Ram Punia said that the Gharaunda police had registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Gang’s kingpin absconding

• The arrested persons have been identified as Sandeep of Narnaund in Hisar, Sandeep of Machhgar in Faridabad and Hrithik of Lohad Bazar in Bhiwani.
• The police said Narnaund’s Sandeep, along with some other gang members, had fired outside an immigration centre in Kurukshetra on October 23.
• The other Sandeep and Hrithik, along with two others of their gang, had carried out firing at a shop of an arhtiya at Pipli and then at Gharaunda in Karnal district.
• The three firing incidents are said to have been carried out for ransom by the gang’s kingpin, Kaka Rana, who is absconding.
• The police said Mankit Lohan of Jind district, was also involved in the gang’s operations, helped in transferring money.