New Delhi: A 40-year-old property dealer was shot dead outside a gym in Narela Thursday morning, with assailants firing around 15 rounds at him.A social media post, purportedly issued by Himanshu Bhau gang, claimed responsibility for the murder. The post named Himanshu and Neeraj Faridpur, and stated that the property dealer, Pramod Dahiya, was earlier warned on the phone, “but he thought that having a licensed weapon would save his life”.The post seemed to warn potential targets, “Don’t live under such an illusion. Once we make a call, the only way to get rid of us is by paying the money; otherwise, death is certain. Keep an eye on who is sitting in the Defender next. Remember, we do not forget after making a phone call. Bhau Gang, Since 2020.”Police are verifying the authenticity of the social media post and probing the motive behind the killing. They are examining CCTV footage from the spot to identify the assailants and map their escape route.Dahiya, a resident of Haryana’s Sonipat district, was going to the gym with Pawan Kumar, a friend, at 7 am when three unidentified men on a scooter opened fire at Dahiya. He sustained multiple bullet injuries in the firing, Pawan told cops, adding two shooters fled the spot on a motorcycle along with another accomplice.A video, recorded shortly after the incident and uploaded on social media, showed Dahiya lying in a pool of blood and several people gathered around him. One person could be heard saying that three men were involved in the shooting.Preliminary inquiry revealed that Dahiya’s business partner had allegedly received an extortion demand of Rs 2 crore. A case in connection with the alleged demand had already been registered in Sonipat, police said.Additional DCP (Outer North) Lokeshwaran R confirmed three people were involved in the shooting. Asked about the bereaved family’s claim that Dahiya had received threats, Lokeshwaran said police had not received any such complaint. Delhi Police will coordinate with Sonipat Police to verify the claim, he added.
