Delhi businessman murder: 5 Lawrence Bishnoi gang members arrested
New Delhi (PTI): Five members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang have been arrested in connection with the recent killing of a 35-year-old businessman in outernorth Delhi's Bawana industrial area, an official said on Sunday.
Acting on specific intelligence, police intercepted some of the suspects earlier in the day. When challenged, the accused allegedly opened fire at the police team in a bid to escape, prompting the personnel to retaliate in self-defence, leading to a brief encounter, the official added.
During the exchange of fire, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury to his leg and was overpowered. Three accused were apprehended during the encounter, while two others were arrested subsequently, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five, police said, adding that none of their personnel sustained serious injuries during the operation.
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Vaibhav Gandhi, a plastic granules manufacturer, was shot dead around 12.50 pm on February 9 near his factory in Sector 4 of the DSIDC industrial area.
Investigators had said that four men were involved in the attack. The assailants allegedly first attempted to snatch the keys of the victim's car and forcibly took away his laptop bag when he resisted before shooting him at close range.
Police had also recovered around Rs 1 crore from inside Gandhi's car after the incident.
A day after the murder, a social media post purportedly issued in the name of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the killing. The post, allegedly from an account using the name "Randeep Malik Anil Pandit", claimed the murder was carried out on behalf of multiple gangs, including those of Lawrence Bishnoi, Jitender Gogi Maan, Hashim Baba and Kala Rana.
The post alleged that Gandhi was interfering in gang activities and warned of similar consequences for anyone obstructing their operations, police said.
Investigators also mentioned that the attackers, who came on motorcycles, chased Gandhi for around 40-50 metres while firing multiple rounds. One of the bullets struck him in the chin, causing him to collapse. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
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Activists write open letter to Odisha govt flagging anti-Christian violence
New Delhi: Activists and rights campaigners John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander have expressed serious concern over the alleged rise in violence and intimidation against Christians in several districts, accusing both Hindutva organisations and sections of the police of targeting the minority community.
In a strongly worded communication addressed to the state administration, the signatories said they had received disturbing testimonies from affected people regarding social boycott, denial of burial rights, physical assaults and police intimidation.
According to the activists, Christians in some areas were allegedly boycotted by villagers, while people who traded with them, employed them or provided them shelter were also targeted.
The letter also highlighted what it described as “gruesome” incidents involving the prevention of burials of Christians within village burial grounds and even on privately owned lands belonging to Christian families. The activists said there were cases where bodies remained unburied for days due to opposition from local groups, while in some instances burials were allegedly forced to take place in forest areas outside village limits. Funeral prayers were also reportedly disrupted.
The signatories further alleged that in certain districts the violence escalated into physical assaults on Christians. They claimed that some victims were tied to trees and beaten, while others were allegedly placed inside sacks and assaulted. The letter also mentioned a few reported instances of sexual violence and attempts to burn people alive, which, according to them, were stopped at the last moment.
Expressing particular concern, the activists said many victims had testified that police personnel joined hands with Hindutva organisations to force Christians into signing “compromise” agreements. These agreements allegedly required them to give up their faith and stop collective worship.
The letter also accused the police of registering serious criminal cases against victims of attacks instead of taking action against the attackers. According to the signatories, many of those attacked were detained in police stations and jails, while in some cases the police themselves allegedly played a direct role in intimidation and violence against Christians.
Stating that there appeared to be a “complete breakdown in the constitutional machinery of the state” in relation to Christian minorities, the activists urged the administration to uphold and protect the constitutional and religious rights of all citizens without discrimination based on religion, caste or creed.
The letter was signed by John Dayal, Aakar Patel, Vidya Dinker and Harsh Mander.
