Gurugram: Shooters storm ex-sarpanch’s house in Manesar, kill 2 sons

GURUGRAM: Three men barged into the house of a former sarpanch in a Manesar village and fired indiscriminately at his family performing Lakshmi puja on Diwali, killing both his sons and injuring four, including an eight-year-old boy.
While the sarpanch’s younger son died before he could be wheeled into a hospital, the other succumbed to injuries during treatment. The four, who suffered bullet wounds, are still in hospital.
Around 7.40pm on Thursday, Gopal (in his early fifties), the former sarpanch of Kasan village in Manesar, was offering prayers with his family and relatives who had come over to celebrate Diwali when the assailants raided the house. “They started firing indiscriminately. It continued for almost 15 minutes,” said Rajesh, Gopal’s brother-in-law, from his hospital bed.
Police said Gopal’s younger son, Vikas (21), had seven bullets pumped into him and succumbed to the injuries on the spot. His elder brother, Sohanpal (35), died in the hospital. Apart from Rajesh, the others who were injured were Gopal’s brother Balram, Parveen, his cousin, Yash, Balram’s eight-year-old son, and Chauhan, a relative. They are undergoing treatment at a Sector 38 hospital.
The attack, police said, is the fallout of an old enmity between two families in Kasan village following a murder that dates back to 2007. Balram and Sohanpal had killed one Manoj, a villager, and were handed the life term in connection with the murder. They had come out on bail a few years ago.
According to the police, members of Manoj’s family were since looking for an opportunity to avenge his death.
Rajesh, who lodged the police complaint, has named Yogender alias Rinku of Kasan village, Deepak from Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, Manish Rana of Bhiwani and Amit of Sonipat, among a few others.
Following the complaint, a case has been registered against them under sections 302 (murder), 148 (rooting with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 307 (attempt to murder) and 452 (house trespass) of the IPC and relevant provisions of the Arms Act at IMT Manesar police station. No arrest had been made till Friday evening.
Yashwant Yadav, station house officer of IMT Manesar police station, confirmed that both the families had been involved in a bitter battle since 2007. “Balram and Sohanpal had come out on bail. The members of the other family were holding a grudge against the former sarpanch and his relatives. They hatched a plan to kill everyone in the family on the night of Diwali,” the SHO said.