Four arrested for Dhakoli liquor vend robbery

The police have arrested four youths who were involved in a gunpoint robbery at a liquor vend in Mamta Enclave, Dhakoli, on the night of November 1. They have been identified as Panchkula residents Nishant Rana (20), Manveer (22), Vishal Kumar, alias Karandi (19) and Pankaj, alias Nikhil (19).

The police have recovered two pistols, one cartridge, two bullet shells, two knives and the bike used in the crime.

Mohali SSP Deepak Pareek and SP (Investigation) Jyoti Yadav said, “During interrogation, the accused confessed to procuring illegal weapons from Uttar Pradesh to commit robberies. They were produced before the court today and the Judge sent them to police custody.”

Manoj Kumar, an employee at the liquor shop in Mamata Enclave, had reported that around 11 pm on November 1, three masked persons entered the shop, while their fourth accomplice waited outside on a motorcycle. Two robbers approached Manoj at the counter. One of them held the employee from behind, pressed a pistol against his back and asked him to hand over all valuables. The other one forcibly took ?10,000 from the cash drawer.

One of the robbers fired a shot, which hit the wall in the basement. Hearing the gunshot, Deepak Sandhu, the owner of the shop, came out. The robbers then fired again, hitting Sandhu in the chest. He has been admitted to the PGI here. On a statement of Manoj Kumar, a resident of Balachaur, a case under Sections 309(4), 309(6), 311, 109(1), 332(B), 115(2), 3(5) BNS, and Arms Act was registered at the Dhakoli police station on November 2.

Mohali CIA in-charge Harminder Singh said Nishant was 12th pass and was involved in a fraud case registered at Chandimandir. Manveer, 8th pass, was booked in an Excise Act case at Sector 7, Panchkula. Vishal is 6th pass and he was involved in a brawl case registered at the Mansa Devi police station. Pankaj, who is 10th pass, has no criminal history.