KURUKSHETRA: An alleged arms supplier linked to the Gandhi Nagar firing case in Kurukshetra was injured in a police encounter after he allegedly attempted to escape from custody late Monday night. The accused, identified as Vishal alias Vicky Sodhi, a resident of Sodhi village in Kurukshetra district, was shot in the leg by police near Umri village after he allegedly attacked a police officer and tried to flee.According to police, a Crime Investigation Agency (CIA)-II team had arrested Vishal for allegedly supplying illegal firearms to the accused involved in the June 14 Gandhi Nagar shooting incident. He was taken to his native village for the recovery of illegal weapons.After recovering the weapons, the police team was returning when the accused allegedly asked them to stop the vehicle on the stretch between National Highway-44 and Umri village, citing the need to use the washroom. Police said that after being taken out of the vehicle, Vishal allegedly bit a police officer on the arm and attempted to escape.The police team fired warning shots and ordered him to stop. However, when he allegedly ignored the warnings, officers opened fire, striking him in the leg before taking him back into custody. He was admitted to LNJP Hospital, Kurukshetra, where he is undergoing treatment.CIA-II Inspector Mandeep Singh said the investigation began after police received information around 3 am on June 14, 2026, that occupants of a car had opened fire on two youths near Gandhi Nagar before fleeing the scene.The injured, identified as Aman, a resident of Kirti Nagar, and Prince, a resident of Gandhi Nagar, were admitted to a government hospital. During the investigation, police recovered five empty cartridge cases from the spot and also seized a Scorpio SUV found a short distance away from the crime scene.Based on Prince’s complaint, police registered a case against Rahul of Barna village, Tony of Kurukshetra, and three others. Considering the seriousness of the incident, the Superintendent of Police transferred the investigation to the Crime Branch and directed officers to arrest the accused.Police had earlier arrested Tony of Gandhi Nagar and Kapil of Chhota Bazaar, Thanesar, following another encounter conducted by the CIA-I team on June 16.Weapons recoveredInspector Mandeep Singh said Vishal alias Vicky Sodhi was arrested from Japuwala village in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. During a search of his native village, police recovered a country-made pistol, two magazines and 10 live cartridges allegedly concealed by the accused.Police said the recovery operation was the purpose of taking Vishal to the village, and the alleged escape attempt occurred while the team was returning.According to police, Vishal had supplied the illegal firearms allegedly used by the main accused, including Rahul of Barna village and his associates, in the Gandhi Nagar firing case.Police further said that Vishal has more than two dozen criminal cases registered against him. The investigation into the firing incident and the alleged arms supply network is ongoing.
