In a dramatic turn of events following the gruesome daylight murder of prominent Abohar-based cloth merchant Sanjay Verma, the Punjab Police on Tuesday carried out a high-stakes encounter near Fazilka that resulted in the killing of two accused shooters. The encounter took place in the dense shrubbery near the railway lines at Panj Peer Tibba, not far from the epicenter of the crime that had sent shockwaves across the region’s business and civil society.
According to police sources, the operation was launched as part of a weapon recovery mission related to the high-profile murder case. As the police team approached the area believed to be a hideout, they were met with indiscriminate firing by three unidentified assailants. The armed confrontation quickly escalated, leading to a gun battle between the attackers and the police personnel.
During the encounter, two of the shooters—associates of the arrested accused Ram Ratan from Patiala and Jaspreet Singh from Mardanpur—were neutralized on the spot. Their lifeless bodies were later recovered from the bushes surrounding the railway lines. In the fierce exchange of fire, Senior Constable Maninder Singh sustained injuries and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment. His condition is reportedly stable.
This rapid and decisive action came just a day after the brutal assassination of Sanjay Verma, a co-owner of the well-known ‘New Wear Well’ showroom in Abohar. On Monday morning, assailants shot Verma multiple times at Bhagat Singh Chowk while he was stepping out of his car near his shop. The shocking murder took place in broad daylight and was captured in CCTV footage, which subsequently played a crucial role in identifying the culprits.
Police had initially suspected extortion as the motive behind the killing. Notably, gangster Arshu Bishnoi claimed responsibility for the murder on social media, further escalating fears among the local business community. The chilling message pointed to the deepening nexus of crime and digital intimidation, and police wasted no time in launching a manhunt.
As part of the investigation, police arrested two accused and expanded the operation to trace their remaining accomplices. Tuesday’s encounter marked a significant breakthrough in the case, restoring a semblance of confidence in law enforcement’s ability to tackle organized crime. The police have placed the region under high alert, with intensified patrolling and a focused search for the third unidentified assailant who managed to flee during the firefight.
The killing of Sanjay Verma had already sparked widespread outrage and anxiety among Abohar’s trading community, with business owners expressing frustration over growing threats, extortion attempts, and the audacity of criminals operating unchecked. With the encounter now concluded and two of the attackers eliminated, authorities hope to send a strong message that the state will not tolerate lawlessness, especially in a sensitive border state like Punjab.
Senior police officials have confirmed that a comprehensive investigation is ongoing, including forensic analysis, interrogation of the arrested accused, and digital tracing of the social media threats. Security has been tightened across the Fazilka and Abohar regions, and officials have reassured the public that all measures are being taken to restore safety and dismantle the criminal networks responsible.
This swift and calculated response by the Punjab Police demonstrates a renewed urgency to clamp down on gang-related violence and prevent further escalation of fear among civilians. The incident also underscores the growing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in dealing with armed extortion rackets backed by digital propaganda and organized criminal gangs.
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