Few hours after Panchkula club firing, 2 held after encounter

Panchkula: Panchkula Police arrested two alleged shooters linked to the Rohit Godara gang after an encounter on the Yamunanagar highway, just hours after a club owner and his associate were shot at outside a Sector 5 club.

Police said the attack took place on the night of June 3 when Ratan Lubana, who runs a club in Sector 5, and his associate Lalit were standing in a parking area outside another club. Two bike-borne assailants allegedly opened fire at them.

Lubana, brother-in-law of BJP councillor Dr Paramjeet Kaur, suffered bullet injuries to his back and left arm, while Lalit was shot in the right shoulder. Both were taken to the Sector 6 civil hospital and later referred to PGI Chandigarh. Lubana was subsequently shifted to a private hospital in Mohali, where he underwent surgery. His condition is stable.

DCP (crime and traffic) Amrinder Singh said police teams launched a manhunt immediately after the attack. Forensic teams recovered seven empty cartridges and two live rounds from the spot.

In a high-speed chase, detective staff officer PSI Saurav Rawat pursued the fleeing accused in his private vehicle after hearing gunshots. The suspects allegedly fired at police near the Bella Vista roundabout but missed.

Additional teams joined the chase on the Yamunanagar highway. The accused were intercepted near the Mattawala flyover, where they allegedly continued firing even after falling off their motorcycle.

Police retaliated in self-defence, injuring both accused in the legs before overpowering them. They were identified as Harpreet Singh alias Happy of Hoshiarpur and Jaswinder Singh alias Gora of Ludhiana.

During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly revealed they were sent by gangster Rohit Godara to eliminate Lubana. Police have invoked provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act, and are probing the wider conspiracy.

The DCP said the accused also fired at police near Bella Vista and again near Nada Sahib Gurdwara before being cornered at Mattawala. Both sides fired four rounds each; no police personnel were injured.

Two separate FIRs are being registered — one for the Sector 5 firing and another for firing at police.

Police recovered two pistols (Glock and Zigana), the motorcycle used in the crime, and identity cards from the accused. Both were first taken to the Sector 6 hospital and later referred to PGI.

Police said the attack appears to follow a pattern of targeting club operators, similar to recent incidents in the region. A purported video call of Godara, which surfaced online after the incident, shows him issuing a threat to Lubana, allegedly over his proximity to “enemies”.

BOX 1: WHAT HAPPENED

Club owner Ratan Lubana and associate Lalit shot at outside Sector 5 club

Both sustained gunshot injuries

Initially admitted to Sector 6 civil hospital, later shifted to PGI and private hospital in Mohali

BOX 5: SEQUENCE OF CHASE

Firing at victims in Sector 5

Gunfire at police near Bella Vista roundabout

Second exchange near Nada Sahib Gurdwara

Final interception at Mattawala flyover

Suspects opened fire at police during pursuit

Police retaliated. Accused were injured and then arrested