In a significant breakthrough, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police has apprehended five high-profile contract killers associated with the notorious Aarzoo-Anmol Bishnoi and Harry Boxer criminal syndicate. The arrests have successfully thwarted a contract killing that was in its planning stages.
The Arrested Accused and Their Crimes
The police have identified the five arrested individuals as Piyush Piplani (28), Ankush Solanki (23), Kuwarbir (30), Lovepreet Singh (26), and Santokh alias Kapil Khatri (29). Hailing from Haryana and Punjab, these men were described as the primary executors behind three high-profile murders.
According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwaha, the trio of murders includes the killing of Inderpreet Singh alias Parry in Chandigarh's Sector 26 earlier this month, the murder of national kabaddi player Sonu Nolta in Haryana on June 5, and the shooting of Ashu Mahajan, owner of Amritsar's Lion Bar & Restaurant, in September.
Modus Operandi of the 'Ghost Hitmen'
Operating as elusive 'ghost hitmen', the group skillfully evaded police across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, where they featured on most-wanted lists. They functioned as a cross-border strike team, taking direct instructions from syndicate leaders Anmol Bishnoi and Harry Boxer.
Their mission was to eliminate targets perceived as threats to the syndicate's extortion rackets and territorial control, using sophisticated firearms. The killings were brazen: Parry was chased and shot dead in his SUV; Nolta was attacked with at least 15 rounds while in his vehicle; and Mahajan was gunned down by two assailants on a motorcycle.
Key Roles and Police Operation
Police investigations revealed specific roles: Piyush Piplani was the lead shooter in Parry's murder and led the attack on Nolta. Ankush Solanki acted as a shooter in both these cases. Kuwarbir was the driver of the getaway vehicle used in Parry's murder. Lovepreet Singh, out on bail, had rejoined the syndicate, while Santokh (Kapil Khatri) was wanted for Mahajan's murder.
The operation was led by ACP Dharmendra Kumar. A tip-off about one accused visiting Paharganj led to the arrest of Singh, Khatri, and Lovepreet near Ring Road at Shanti Van. Subsequent intelligence about more associates arriving led to the capture of Piplani and Solanki at the Sarai Kale Khan bus stand. The police recovered four firearms and a large cache of ammunition from the accused.
This major crackdown deals a substantial blow to the operational arm of a dangerous inter-state syndicate, preventing further violence and bringing wanted criminals to justice.
