Himachal Pradesh Police arrested five persons on Thursday in connection with the axe attack on a man in Bilaspur district, approximately 28 hours after the incident. The arrested individuals include the two alleged main conspirators, identified as Saurabh Patial alias Phandi and Kulbhushan Thakur alias Lucky, along with Dheeraj Dharmani, Surya Chandel, and Anil Kumar.
Attack Details and Victim Condition
According to police, the attack occurred on Wednesday when several individuals allegedly attacked Sunny Gill with axes near the Mandi-Bharari Bridge while he was being transported to a court hearing. Gill, who was an accused in a 2024 shooting incident outside the Bilaspur court, sustained serious injuries in the assault. He was immediately shifted to AIIMS Bilaspur, where he remains in critical condition and is undergoing treatment.
Legal Action and Investigation
A case was registered under Sections 126(2), 115(2), 352, 352(2), and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. Police formed multiple teams and analyzed CCTV footage to track the suspects. During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused had meticulously planned their escape to avoid arrest.
Escape Strategy and Arrest
Bilaspur Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhishek Dhiman stated that within just 24 hours, the accused changed eight different vehicles, traveled exclusively through link roads, and avoided CCTV cameras and police checkpoints. “They hid in the dense forests of Berthin and Banjar and kept their mobile phones switched off to evade technical surveillance,” he said. After extensive investigation and analysis of digital and technical evidence, police successfully traced the two main accused from Banjar and arrested them. Other individuals involved in the conspiracy, including those providing logistical support and a vehicle, were also arrested.
“Both the accused are being brought to Bilaspur for further investigation. Further investigation is going on,” SP Dhiman added.
