Shooter held for targeting singer Fazilpuria’s ex-manager killed in encounter

GURGAON: One of the two alleged shooters arrested for the May 2 firing outside the house of singer Fazilpuria’s former manager was killed in a gunfight with police on Monday. The second accused and a constable who was part of the police team accompanying them were also injured.

Police said Gursher Singh alias Shera (23) died in hospital while Jaspal alias Babbal (28) is battling a grievous injury to the leg. They were arrested over the shooting outside Saurabh Yadav’s house in Sector 45, where constable Kulbir, who was posted there following complaints of extortion, suffered bullet-graze injuries to his hands and legs.

Police spokesperson Sandeep Turan said the two accused were taken to Bandhwari on Monday morning for the recovery of weapons allegedly used in the attack. During the operation, they allegedly led the team to three concealed Glock pistols, picked them up and opened indiscriminate fire.

“The accused fired around eight to 10 rounds at the police team. Police retaliated in self-defence,” an officer said.

Both men were hit and rushed to hospital. Gursher died during treatment. Constable Naveen, who, too, was hit in the leg, was discharged after treatment.

The encounter came days after city cops arrested the two men, alleging they had come from Punjab to kill Yadav and had opened fire outside his house in Kanhai on May 2 to create panic. Police said the attack was carried out at the behest of foreign-based gangsters Deepak Nandal and Satta Naushera, who had allegedly promised them money.

The two shooters told police during questioning that Yadav’s house had been identified for them by other men already arrested in the case. Four others — Ashok alias Pahalwan, Sumit, Manoj Kabar and Vicky — were earlier arrested for allegedly arranging motorcycles, conducting recce and helping execute the conspiracy.

Police are also examining the wider gang link. Naushera is believed to be a close associate of Lakhbir Singh Landa, who was declared a terrorist by the Union home ministry in Dec 2023. A senior officer said police would check whether the recovered Glocks had any cross-border link. “Many a times, Glocks recovered from Naushera gang members were found to have been smuggled from Pakistan. We will examine that angle too,” the officer said.

Police had earlier said Yadav and fugitive gangster Nandal knew each other and may have had a monetary dispute. They are also probing whether the attack was tied to earlier extortion threats.

On a complaint by constable Kulbir, an FIR was registered at Sector 40 police station under BNS provisions dealing with attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, common intention and assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from duty, along with relevant sections of the Arms Act.

Police records show Gursher had earlier cases of attempt to murder and Arms Act violations in Punjab and Gurgaon. Jaspal, police said, has cases of assault, criminal intimidation and two FIRs under the NDPS Act in Punjab.