Shooters wanted for Chandigarh Sewak pharmacy firing injured in encounter, 4 arrested: police

According to the police, on January 15, two unidentified men arrived on a white Activa scooter and fired two rounds inside Sewak Medical Store in Sector 32. They also threatened to kill the shop owner before fleeing. One bullet shattered the glass counter, while the second struck the lower portion of the shop.

During the investigation, the police arrested Rahul Bisht, 32, a resident of Sector 46A, on January 18, and later recovered 46.26 g of heroin, 392 g of opium, a country-made pistol with a magazine, two live cartridges, four empty cartridges, 11 mobile phones, two weighing machines, and other electronic items. Another FIR was registered in connection with the matter on January 20, under sections of the NDPS Act and the Arms Act.

Further investigation revealed that Rahul Bisht, a lab operator with an MSc degree, was associated with 10–12 laboratories for blood sample testing. He had come in contact with Saba, a resident of Gobindgarh, who is based in America. The two remained connected through the encrypted Signal app. The police said Saba hatched a plan to extort money by creating fear through firing incidents. Bisht allegedly provided phone numbers and personal details of potential targets, while Saba made extortion calls from abroad.

Bisht then recruited Rahul, 30, a former lab assistant from Hallo Majra, and Deval Sharma alias Ricky, 41, his friend from Vikas Nagar. Both are stated to be drug addicts facing financial crises, which made them vulnerable to criminal activity, according to DSP Kumar.

As per the police, Saba arranged a pistol, two magazines, and Rs 30,000 cash in Rajpura town to execute the plan. On January 15, Rahul and Ricky reached Sector 32 on a stolen Activa scooter. Rahul drove while Ricky allegedly fired inside the pharmacy. After the incident, they fled towards Sector 46 and met Bisht and Kulwinder Singh, alias Preet, 32, who were waiting for them in a metallic silver WagonR car.

On Saba’s instructions, the accused later opened fire targeting the Fortuner car of property dealer Sarbtej Singh at Rama Mandi, Jalandhar, on Tuesday. They had also attempted to steal a four-wheeler at a petrol pump in Jawaharpura in Mohali’s Derabassi area by threatening its driver at gunpoint. However, they fled after petrol pump staff raised an alarm, said the DSP.

ASI saved by bulletproof jacket in encounter

The Chandigarh Police set up barricades along the Mohali border after receiving a tip-off that the accused in the case were roaming in a metallic silver WagonR and planning to enter the city. The vehicle was spotted near Grain Market in Sector 39, but it sped away towards Maloya and crashed into an electric pole.

The two accused then allegedly opened fire at the police. While one bullet hit a police vehicle, another struck Assistant Sub-Inspector Sanjay, the police said, adding that his bulletproof jacket saved him.
The police further said they shot Rahul and Ricky in the legs in retaliatory firing. They were immediately overpowered and shifted to the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 16, while Preet was arrested on the spot. Rahul and Ricky were arrested later.

The DSP said that the police recovered three pistols, live ammunition, narcotic drugs including amphetamine and opium, and a WagonR car from the accused.

The police said the investigation was underway to trace Saba as well as his funding sources and associates linked to the extortion racket. More arrests are expected in the coming days.