Chandigarh Chemist Shop Murder: Accused Shot in Police Encounter During Alleged Escape Bid
Chandigarh: Two men arrested in connection with the murder of a cashier at a Chandigarh chemist shop sustained gunshot injuries during a police encounter on Thursday morning after allegedly attempting to escape from custody while being transported to the city from Jammu.
The accused, identified as Sunny Mehra and Aryan Sharma, were arrested from the Jammu region on June 17 in connection with the June 13 killing of Janki Das, a cashier employed at Shri Kumar Medicos in Sector 11, Chandigarh.
According to police sources, the encounter took place at around 6 am near the Panjab University forest area when the accused were being brought to Chandigarh following their arrest. During transit, the SUV carrying the accused and police personnel reportedly met with an accident and crashed into a tree. Sources indicated that amid the confusion following the accident, the accused allegedly managed to get hold of a service pistol that had fallen inside the vehicle. They then reportedly attempted to flee and opened fire at the police team while escaping. Police sources stated that two rounds were allegedly fired by the accused.
A police team led by Inspector Harinder Singh Sekhon of the Operations Cell and Inspector Narinder Patial of the Crime Branch retaliated. During the exchange of fire, police personnel reportedly fired four rounds, resulting in injuries to both accused. The two men suffered gunshot wounds to their legs and were subsequently admitted to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16. Their condition was reported to be stable.
The arrests are linked to the murder of 45-year-old Janki Das, who was working as a cashier at Shri Kumar Medicos in Sector 11. Das, a native of Himachal Pradesh, was shot multiple times inside the chemist shop by masked assailants posing as customers. He later succumbed to his injuries at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh.
The murder had triggered widespread concern among residents and traders in Chandigarh due to the brazen nature of the attack. Reports indicated that the assailants entered the shop disguised as customers before opening fire and fleeing the scene. Investigators have been examining various possible motives behind the killing.
The Indian Express reports that the accused were arrested from the Jammu region a day before the encounter and were being brought to Chandigarh for further investigation when the alleged escape attempt and subsequent exchange of fire took place. The incident remains under investigation, and police are continuing to probe the murder case as well as the circumstances surrounding the encounter.
