Police in Ludhiana have made a significant breakthrough in the investigation of a horrific wedding shootout that claimed two innocent lives six days ago. The focus of their probe has been a licensed pistol allegedly used by a prime accused during the deadly gang clash.
The Mediator and the Mysterious Weapon
The weapon in question belonged to Jatinder Kumar Dawar, a man who had attempted to mediate a truce between two notorious rival gangsters, Ankur and Shubham. This ill-timed peace effort at a wedding function is believed to have triggered the violent exchange of fire. Dawar himself was injured and is currently hospitalized.
During cross-questioning at the hospital, a conflicting narrative emerged. Ankur, who is in police custody, claimed he had 'borrowed' Dawar's licensed pistol to shoot at Shubham. Dawar, however, vehemently denied this, insisting his firearm was safely at home and he had not brought it to the wedding venue. A police check at Dawar's residence initially seemed to support his claim, as the pistol was found there, deepening the puzzle.
Friends' Testimony Unravels the Plot
The mystery began to unravel when police teams, questioning other wedding guests, identified two friends of Dawar who were also present. Upon interrogation, it was revealed that Dawar had handed his pistol to these friends after the shootout.
"Dawar allegedly told the two men to clean the gun well to erase any evidence that it had been fired recently or that anyone else had used it," an investigating officer told TOI. The plan, according to police, was to present Dawar as an unarmed guest caught in the crossfire. One of these friends has now been arrested for his role in the alleged cover-up.
A Wedding Turned War Zone
The tragic sequence of events began when both Ankur and Shubham – arch-rivals with criminal histories – were invited to the same wedding by the groom, contractor Varinder Kapoor. Kapoor is now also named in the FIR. Despite an initial tussle between the gangsters at the venue, Dawar took Ankur outside to meet Shubham for a patch-up talk. The situation escalated instantly into a gunfight.
Police reports indicate that over 40 rounds were fired from at least six pistols during the ensuing shootout. The hail of bullets killed the groom's aunt, Neeru Chhabra, and a family friend, Vasu Chopra, a father of two, on the spot. Dawar was among those injured.
To date, police have arrested approximately nine suspects. However, Ankur remains the only alleged shooter in custody, and Dawar's pistol is the only weapon recovered so far. Shubham and his aides are still at large. Those arrested include three private security guards for permitting armed men into the venue, Dawar's friend for cleaning the gun, and six individuals accused of helping the suspects escape.
A critical question remains unanswered: who fired the fatal bullets that killed Neeru Chhabra and Vasu Chopra? The Ludhiana police investigation continues as they piece together the final chain of events from that fateful day.
