Gurgaon: Two men were arrested for the murder of 35-year-old Deepak, who was shot dead inside his car at Sidhrawali bus stand, allegedly over old personal enmities.They have also identified fugitive gangster Lipin Nehra as a key link in the conspiracy. Investigators allege Nehra supplied the firearms used in the killing, including a Chinese-made PX-30 pistol, which they suspect was smuggled into India from Pakistan through the Punjab border.The murder took place when Deepak was travelling in his Maruti Swift near Sidhrawali bus stand. He was found dead in the driver’s seat on the morning of Nov 9, with his seat belt still fastened. Police recovered 18 empty cartridges from outside the vehicle. CCTV footage showed a person approaching the car and opening fire.The arrested men are Jatin (21), a resident of Sidhrawali village, and Monu alias Dholia (27), a resident of Nangal Dargu in Mahendragarh district. A team led by sub-inspector Lalit Kumar, in-charge of Crime Branch Sector 40, arrested Jatin from Sahrawan village on Nov 10. Monu was arrested from Paota in Kotputli, Rajasthan, on Nov 12. Police recovered a country-made pistol, a foreign-made PX-30 pistol, seven live cartridges and a mobile phone from their possession.According to police, Nehra supplied Monu with the firearms. Investigators are now trying to establish how the sophisticated PX-30 reached Nehra and, through him, the shooters. “It is an original PX-30 gun, a sophisticated and expensive Chinese-made weapon. It is easily available in Pakistan’s black market, including Karachi,” an investigator said.The PX-30 is the market name for the .30-bore variant of Norinco PX-3 semi-automatic pistol. The recovery has brought the illegal supply of foreign-made firearms to criminal networks in Haryana back into focus.Sources said Jatin and Monu had been planning the murder for around 45 days. During interrogation, Jatin allegedly told investigators he wanted to avenge assaults on his brother and a friend by Deepak and his associates. His brother was beaten up around six months ago, while his friend was also assaulted. Jatin had also received death threats in connection with the dispute, police said.Monu had a separate grudge against Deepak. He used to work at a restaurant in Sidhrawali owned by Satyendra Yadav, whom Deepak had allegedly attacked with the intention of killing him around six years ago. Deepak was booked for a murder bid on Yadav at the time. Monu wanted to avenge that incident but had been waiting for an opportunity. Jatin then contacted him and the two allegedly joined hands to execute the murder, ACP Lalit Dalal said.Monu disclosed during interrogation his involvement in another attempt-to-murder case registered in the Sector 10 police station area, police said. He has eight criminal cases registered against him in the city and Nangal Chaudhary, including those related to attempt to murder, robbery, snatching, Arms Act and Excise Act.Deepak, too, had a criminal record, with eight cases registered against him in Gurgaon and Rajasthan. These included two murder cases, besides cases of attempt to murder, assault, extortion, illegal possession of weapons and offences under Prison Act.The initial investigation had examined the possibility of gang rivalry, given Deepak’s suspected association with the Ashok Rathi gang. Sources said Nehra had no direct rivalry with that gang, but his alleged role in supplying the firearms has emerged as a crucial lead. Police now attribute the murder to the separate personal grudges allegedly held by Jatin and Monu. Investigators are also examining Nehra’s role in the arms supply chain.
