Gangster posted an update on Facebook after his arrest

GURUGRAM:

Sampat Nehra

, once a state-level track and field athlete, is the son of an assistant sub-inspector with Chandigarh Police, wanted to be a don. The social media-savvy

gangster

loves to upload his pictures with guns, bikes and of working out in the gym.


After his arrest late evening on Wednesday, at around 9.51pm, the gangster updated a post on his Facebook profile, informing his followers about his arrest by Haryana Police in Andhra Pradesh, and claimed he may be killed in a fake encounter by police. He also urged his friends and followers to share the post. The post got 360 likes, 67 shares and 28 comments. Minutes later, at 9.54pm, another gang member, Ankit Bhadu, uploaded another post on Facebook, saying Nehra was arrested in good condition by Haryana Police, but that they feared he may be ‘encountered’. He even issued a threat to police. The post got 573 likes and 64 shares.

Nehra (28) studied in DAV College under Panjab University in Sector 10, Chandigarh, and was active in student politics. The caption accompanying his Facebook profile picture shows him as president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU).

During his college days, he came close to gangster Lawrence

Bishnoi

, a former SOPU leader, and got involved in carjacking. Gradually, he emerged as a gangster and went on to lead Bishnoi’s gang after the latter was arrested. Originally from Kalauri village in Churu district, Rajasthan, Nehra is wanted by police for several heinous crimes, including 12 murders, six attempts to murder, two extortions, and five dacoities and robberies.

Few years ago, a senior SOPU leader said though Nehra was an important face of their party and was given important duties during student elections, since he got involved in criminal activities, their association had ended. Nehra was also called ‘Ravindra Jadeja’ by his friends, as he supposedly resembles the cricketer.

A resident of Police Lines, Sector 26, Chandigarh, he is wanted by police of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. “He loves to brag about his crimes. After committing a crime, he used to upload pictures, statuses and even videos of themselves on Facebook,” said a senior police officer. He was also active on Instagram where he has 964 followers. His Instagram status read — “Agar raftaar tez na ho, to dushman ki chlai hui goli ka kaam asaan ho jata hai (If you are not fast, the job of your enemy’s bullet becomes easy)”. In one of his Facebook posts, he claimed to be a “spiritual gangster”.

Such was his fan following on

social media

that within minutes of the Facebook status update of his arrest, a large number of youths began commenting on it. Some prayed for his safety, others extended support, still others issued threats to police. “Agar aisa kuch (encounter) hua to Sarkar ko bahut bura natija bhugatna padega (If he is killed in an encounter, the government will have to face consequences),” read a comment by a Bajrang Saraswat.

Some of his followers were confident the gangster will soon be out of jail, else they will free him. “Kahi to jayenge peshi ke liye (He will be freed whenever cops take him to court for hearing),” commented Lokesh. Police said Nehra used to brainwash teenagers and encourage them to take up crime. “He was quite popular among youths,” said police.


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