GOHANA/SONIPAT: A property dealer was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants outside his office on Rohtak Road in Gohana on Friday evening, triggering fresh concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Sonipat. The victim, identified as Bijender alias Nanha Pehal, was sitting inside his Creta car at around 6.30 pm when the attackers opened fire, reportedly firing 14-15 rounds before fleeing the spot.Bijender, originally from Gumad village in the Gohana region, was living in Adarsh Nagar, Gohana. He operated an office under the name Shivam Property Advisor on Rohtak Road, where he dealt in property transactions.According to preliminary information, Bijender was preparing to leave for home when the assailants arrived on a motorcycle and targeted him. Investigators suspect that the attackers may have conducted reconnaissance before executing the murder. He sustained multiple bullet injuries and died on the spot.Police personnel marked the bullet casings found at the scene and assigned them identification numbers. Thirteen empty cartridges were reportedly recovered from the spot. A forensic team also collected samples and other scientific evidence to assist the investigation.Police Commissioner Mamta Singh visited the crime scene and reviewed the investigation. She said four dedicated police teams had been constituted to pursue different leads and trace the assailants. The teams are working in different directions to identify and arrest those involved in the killing.ACP Gohana Rajiv Kumar said the victim’s family had been asked to submit a formal complaint. An FIR would be registered once the family submitted its written application. The body has been shifted to the hospital mortuary, and the postmortem examination will be conducted on Saturday.
Eight murders reported in a week, four linked to alcohol-related disputes
Acknowledging the spate of killings in the district, Mamta Singh said around eight murders had been reported in Sonipat over the past week. Of these, four were linked to disputes that erupted after people consumed alcohol.She said families also needed to pay attention to such incidents and cooperate with the police to prevent alcohol-related disputes from escalating into violent crimes.
45 major checkpoints across district; temporary deployments and patrolling intensified
Responding to concerns over the recent crime incidents, the police commissioner said 45 major checkpoints had been established across Sonipat district. These are separate from the routine naka points maintained by the police.She said police personnel were conducting regular day-and-night patrolling, while temporary checkpoints and additional deployments had also been increased. The department would further strengthen its security arrangements to curb criminal activities.The police are also keeping a close watch on people with criminal backgrounds. According to Mamta Singh, habitual offenders and individuals facing criminal cases are being summoned to police stations for questioning and regular verification. Their activities are being monitored, particularly to ascertain whether they are carrying illegal firearms.Referring to a recent murder on the Jammu-Katra highway, Mamta Singh said the preliminary investigation had not indicated a gang war angle. She said the incident appeared to have occurred under the circumstances prevailing at the time during the night, and the investigation was continuing.She maintained that the Gohana property dealer’s murder appeared to be a planned attack and that the police were examining all possible angles.The immediate challenge for investigators is to identify the assailants, establish the motive behind the killing and trace their escape route. Police teams are examining CCTV footage and other evidence as part of the investigation.
