How Kanwar trip and bike repair lured 2 teens into Gurugram encounter
Two 17-year-olds were killed in the Gurugram encounter after police said they were drawn into an extortion plot on false pretences. The case has turned attention to how gangs allegedly pull in teenagers with no criminal record.
A police encounter in Gurugram late on Thursday brought to light a disturbing case in which two 17-year-old boys with no criminal record were allegedly lured into a gangster-led extortion conspiracy and were among the four people killed in the shootout.
According to the police investigation and statements from the victims' families, 22-year-old bike mechanic Nitin, a resident of Bhaloth village in Rohtak who was allegedly involved in criminal activities, persuaded the two teenagers, Ankit and Aryan, to accompany him.
Ankit, 17, had passed Class 8 and was the only brother among four sisters. His family said he left home after telling them he was going to Haridwar to collect Kanwar during the ongoing pilgrimage.
Aryan, also 17, was a Class 12 student and an emerging javelin throw athlete. According to his family, he left home on the pretext of getting his motorcycle repaired.
Police said Nitin brought both minors from Rohtak to Gurugram in a Scorpio vehicle along with Sandeep alias Deepa. They later met Shivam, a resident of Kota Basai, where they were allegedly drawn into a criminal plan.
According to police sources, the conspiracy was orchestrated by gangster Deepak Nandal, who is allegedly operating from abroad. Police said Nandal had been demanding an extortion payment of Rs 10 crore from prominent Gurugram businessman Vishal Berry for the past three months and had allegedly made 15 to 20 threatening phone calls to him.
When the extortion demand was not met, police said Nandal assigned his trusted associate, Sandeep alias Deepa, a resident of Fatehabad, to execute a firing attack at Vishal Berry's residence. Police said Sandeep has 14 criminal cases registered against him, including charges under attempt to murder, the Arms Act and the NDPS Act.
Investigators said the most tragic aspect of the case is that the two minors had no known criminal background. Police believe their acquaintance and trust in Nitin allegedly led them into the conspiracy.
The encounter also involved heavy firing. According to an eyewitness, 10 to 15 rounds were fired during the incident. "A bullet grazed my mother-in-law's leg; it just grazed past. They also hurled abuses at us," the eyewitness said.
Police are now investigating how the gangster network allegedly used social media or local contacts to recruit the teenagers and involve them in the criminal plot. The case has also raised concerns over how organised crime networks allegedly exploit young people with no criminal history to carry out illegal activities.
A police encounter in Gurugram late on Thursday brought to light a disturbing case in which two 17-year-old boys with no criminal record were allegedly lured into a gangster-led extortion conspiracy and were among the four people killed in the shootout.
According to the police investigation and statements from the victims' families, 22-year-old bike mechanic Nitin, a resident of Bhaloth village in Rohtak who was allegedly involved in criminal activities, persuaded the two teenagers, Ankit and Aryan, to accompany him.
Ankit, 17, had passed Class 8 and was the only brother among four sisters. His family said he left home after telling them he was going to Haridwar to collect Kanwar during the ongoing pilgrimage.
Aryan, also 17, was a Class 12 student and an emerging javelin throw athlete. According to his family, he left home on the pretext of getting his motorcycle repaired.
Police said Nitin brought both minors from Rohtak to Gurugram in a Scorpio vehicle along with Sandeep alias Deepa. They later met Shivam, a resident of Kota Basai, where they were allegedly drawn into a criminal plan.
According to police sources, the conspiracy was orchestrated by gangster Deepak Nandal, who is allegedly operating from abroad. Police said Nandal had been demanding an extortion payment of Rs 10 crore from prominent Gurugram businessman Vishal Berry for the past three months and had allegedly made 15 to 20 threatening phone calls to him.
When the extortion demand was not met, police said Nandal assigned his trusted associate, Sandeep alias Deepa, a resident of Fatehabad, to execute a firing attack at Vishal Berry's residence. Police said Sandeep has 14 criminal cases registered against him, including charges under attempt to murder, the Arms Act and the NDPS Act.
Investigators said the most tragic aspect of the case is that the two minors had no known criminal background. Police believe their acquaintance and trust in Nitin allegedly led them into the conspiracy.
The encounter also involved heavy firing. According to an eyewitness, 10 to 15 rounds were fired during the incident. "A bullet grazed my mother-in-law's leg; it just grazed past. They also hurled abuses at us," the eyewitness said.
Police are now investigating how the gangster network allegedly used social media or local contacts to recruit the teenagers and involve them in the criminal plot. The case has also raised concerns over how organised crime networks allegedly exploit young people with no criminal history to carry out illegal activities.
