2 blast case accused held after encounter in Hisar

Three days after low-intensity crude bomb blasts outside two clubs in Sector 26 — Seville, owned by rapper Badshah, and De’Orra — two operatives of the Kala Jathedi-Goldy Brar gang were arrested following an encounter by a joint team of the Chandigarh Police and the Haryana STF on the outskirts of Hisar today.

The accused, identified as Vinay (20), a resident of Dev Muklan village in Hisar; and Ajit (21) of Kharar. Both suspects opened fire on the police party. They were shot in the leg in retaliatory fire.

During questioning, the accused revealed that they carried out the blasts on the directions of gangster Goldy Brar. Sources said two pistols had been recovered from the accused, who were kabaddi players.

According to police sources, the assailants fled towards Mohali after carrying out the blasts. They reached the Dappar toll plaza via the Airport Road, where they abandoned their motorcycle bearing fake registration plates. From there, they travelled to Hisar by bus. The accused got off the bus near Bahabalpur village where they took a lift on a two-wheeler to Bahabalpur. They were picked by someone in a car at Bahabalpur, from where they fled towards Hisar.

Multiple teams of the Crime Branch, District Crime Cell and Operation Cell were on the trail of the suspects.

On November 26, the assailants, riding a motorcycle, first targeted Seville around 3:15 am and minutes later, carried out another blast at De’Orra, which is situated just 30 metres away. Both clubs are just 100 metres from the Sector 26 police station, which also houses Operation Cell.

A few hours after the attack, a Facebook post from a purported account of Goldy Brar claiming responsibility for the attacks went viral. The post claimed that Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara, associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were behind the incident. According to the post, the club owners were told to pay protection money, but both ignored the demand, leading to the blasts.

Gangster Goldy Brar, who is operating from abroad, has been linked to several high-profile cases, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala. “We have certain inputs that establish his involvement,” an officer said.

Boarded bus from Dappar toll plaza

The assailants fled towards Mohali after carrying out the blasts. They reached the Dappar toll plaza via the Airport Road, where they abandoned their motorcycle bearing fake registration plates. From there, they travelled to Hisar by bus. Both got off the bus near Bahabalpur village where they took a lift on a two-wheeler to Bahabalpur. They were picked by someone in a car at Bahabalpur, from where they fled towards Hisar.