Accused of doctor’s murder, multiple robberies, Nepal national killed in late-night encounter with Gurgaon and Delhi police

When the police nabbed Jora’s accomplice in the theft case, during the interrogation, his name surfaced as the mastermind.

‘The encounter’

Hemant Tiwari, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East Delhi), said the joint police team consisted of sub-inspectors Shubham Chaudhary, Vinod, and Rajbir; ASIs Anil and Satvir; head constables Rajesh, Mahendra, and Prem Narayan; and constables Rohit, Priyank, and Ajeet.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of Rajesh Kumar Phogat, DCP (Crime), Gurgaon, and Lalit Dalal, ACP (Crime).

“A trap was laid at the DDA Astha Kunj park on the intervening night of October 6 and 7, where the team intercepted the accused after concerted efforts. The police staff warned the accused to surrender. However, the accused immediately resorted to firing upon the police party, and two bullets hit the bulletproof jackets of Inspector Narender Sharma and SI Shubham Chaudhary. They narrowly escaped”.

Tiwari said Chaudhary moved towards Jora, and retaliated in self-defence to neutralise him for the “safety of other team members and fired two shots at him, pointing towards his legs”.

“Eventually, one of the bullets fired by Chaudhary hit the chest of the accused, due to which he got injured. Inspectors Rajendar Dagar and Narender Sharma and Head Constable Rajesh pounced upon the accused to overpower him and snatched away his weapon. The Crime Team and FSL conducted a thorough inspection of the crime scene,” he added.

Tiwari added a sophisticated automatic pistol with a magazine, six empty cartridges of the rounds fired by Jora on the police team, one live round recovered from the magazine of Jora’s pistol, five empty cartridges of bullets fired by the police, and a bullet lead fired on the bulletproof jacket of Inspector Sharma were recovered from the spot.

While speaking to The Indian Express, Inspector Sharma said that acting on a tip-off that Jora was in Aastha Kunj Park with an accomplice, the Gurgaon Crime Branch, Sector 43, team coordinated with personnel from the Delhi Police’s Amar Colony Police Station.

“A special team led by Inspector Rajendra Gagar of Delhi’s Operation Midnight Special Staff, under DCP (South East) Hemant Tiwari, joined the operation. As the police approached, Jora opened fire, prompting a retaliatory response in which he was fatally injured. He was rushed to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, but was declared dead. An accomplice who was with him escaped,” Sharma added.

“The Gurgaon Crime Branch, particularly Constable Rohit Balauria, played a key role in tracking Jora, who had been absconding for 17 months. Earlier, the team arrested Jora’s accomplice, Yubhraj Thapa, in connection with the Sector 49 theft. Jora was also wanted in cases in Surat (2014), Karnataka (2022), and Ghaziabad (2022),” a police source said.

The Delhi Police had announced a Rs 1 lakh reward and a one-rank promotion for Jora’s capture, they added. The Guragaon police team in Monday’s encounter arrested three Nepali gang members operating with fake IDs last month, highlighting the gang’s modus operandi.

A tale of crime

Jora’s gang used fake Aadhaar cards to secure jobs in affluent homes, later drugging residents or holding them hostage to steal valuables before fleeing to Nepal.

Jora, a key conspirator in a gang that infiltrated homes by placing members as domestic workers for reconnaissance and robberies, had remained at large with his wife Varsha after being on the run following the Delhi doctor’s murder in May 2024.

He was wanted in the murder of Dr Paul, a 63-year-old general physician who was strangled in his Jangpura Extension kitchen during a robbery. The case involved the doctor’s long-time domestic help, Basanti, who allegedly shared details of his cash and jewellery with Jora, Varsha, and six others.

While several accomplices, including Basanti, Vishnu Swaroop Shahi, Pankaj Narjari, and Prem Bahadur Nepali, were arrested, Jora and Varsha escaped, prompting the Delhi Police to offer a reward of Rs 50,000 each for their capture.

The case gained renewed focus after the theft at the home of BJP leader Bharadwaj in Gurgaon. Their 30-year-old Nepali domestic help, Yuvraj Thapa, allegedly stole jewellery and cash from their Orchid Villa when she and her husband stepped out for a walk.

Thapa was arrested at Delhi’s Anand Vihar Railway Station while fleeing to Nepal the same day. Thapa, who is from Nepal’s Bajura district, like Jora, confessed to acting under Jora’s instructions. He said Jora was at the crime scene with his partner, who was giving instructions during the operation, and also divided the loot.

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