Bhati gang member held for attack on MP aide

Noida: A Delhi-based member of the infamous Randeep Bhati gang was arrested from Pari Chowk in connection with the attack on BJP functionary Singa Pandit, a close aide of MP Mahesh Sharma, earlier this month.
The arrested accused was identified as Ashwini alias Rinku, who is from Najafgarh in Delhi. The attack, police said, was planned by Bhati from Mandoli jail, where he is jailed. It has been linked to a business dispute.
“On November 3, Singa Pandit was attacked by 11 unidentified assailants while he was travelling in his car in Greater Noida. He was admitted to a hospital with broken bones and severe injuries. An FIR was lodged against unidentified persons at Beta 2 police station and an investigation was launched,” said Abhishek Verma, the deputy commissioner of police in Greater Noida.
Earlier on Sunday, the special task force of Uttarakhand Police nabbed three persons from Dehradun in connection with the attack. They were identified as Harpal from Rewari in Haryana, Gaurav Chandel from Faridabad and Gaurav Bainsla of Baghpat. The SUV used in the attack and two pistols were also recovered from them.
“They spilled the beans on the fourth accused. One of them told the Uttarakhand cops that the attack had been plotted at Mandoli jail itself. Harpal, who was in jail in connection with a case, had met Bhati there and taken Rs 5 lakh from him to carry out the attack on Pandit. He came out on bail and planned the attack for October 28,” said Verma.
The gang, however, could not carry out the attack on that day. So, they decided on November 3.
“They did a recce. When Pandit left home in his car, they intercepted him near the
ATS roundabout and sprayed the vehicle with bullets. The fourth accused was arrested from Pari Chwok,” Verma said.
Anil Kumar, the SHO of Beta 2 police station, said one of Bhati’s relatives had entered into a business contract with Pandit’s brother. “They were in touch for almost a year in connection with the business. But there was a dispute and their ties turned sour a few months ago. Another reason for the attack on Pandit was that he had passed some casteist remarks on Bhati’s family,” Kumar said.
Ashwini has apparently told the police that the gang was asked to kill Pandit, or at least “break his legs”. He has been involved in around a dozen cases of loot, robbery and possession of illegal arms in NCR and was jailed at Dwarka police station earlier.