Gurgaon Constable Receives Republic Day Felicitation for Key Role in Criminal Encounter
Constable Rohit Balauria of the Gurgaon Police's Sector 43 Crime Branch was felicitated by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini during the Republic Day celebrations on Monday. The ceremony, held at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium, recognized Balauria's significant contribution to the operation that led to the encounter of notorious criminal Bhim Bahadur Jora in October last year.
Commendation for Bravery and Intelligence Work
Balauria received a commendation certificate for his involvement in the high-stakes operation. Speaking with media, Inspector Narendra Kumar Sharma expressed pride in Balauria's achievement, emphasizing that the constable truly deserved the recognition. Balauria himself described the honor as a morale booster not just for him personally, but for the entire police force.
The constable revealed details about his undercover work in Nepal during September, where he spent ten days gathering critical intelligence on Jora's movements. Operating in civilian clothing, Balauria managed to track Jora's patterns, including how the criminal frequently changed phones and addresses to evade detection. This intelligence proved crucial in tracing Jora's last known activities and luring him back to Delhi with local assistance.
The Notorious Criminal: Bhim Bahadur Jora
Bhim Bahadur Jora, a 30-year-old Nepalese national and gang leader, was wanted in multiple criminal cases across India. He carried a reward of Rs 1 lakh and had evaded arrest for 17 months following his alleged involvement in the murder of 63-year-old doctor Yogesh Chandra Paul during a burglary in Delhi's Jangpura Extension in May 2024.
Jora headed a sophisticated crime syndicate that operated for over a decade across major Indian cities including Delhi, Gurgaon, Surat, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. His network recruited Nepalese individuals who used fake Aadhaar cards to pose as domestic workers, gathering intelligence on potential targets. The gang's modus operandi involved sedating or restraining residents before stealing cash and jewellery, then fleeing to Nepal.
The criminal had a history of arrests and releases:
- Arrested in connection with a 2014 dacoity in Surat
- Detained for a 2022 theft in Ghaziabad
- Apprehended for another 2022 burglary in Bengaluru
Each time, Jora managed to obtain bail and resume his criminal operations, making his eventual encounter particularly significant for law enforcement agencies.
Breakthrough in the Investigation
The turning point in the case came when Jora's accomplice, Yubhraj Thapa alias Yuvraj Thapa, was arrested at Delhi's Anand Vihar Railway Station. During interrogation, Thapa revealed Jora's involvement in a Rs 20 lakh theft on October 2, 2025, at the residence of BJP leader Mamta Bharadwaj in Gurgaon's Sector 49.
This information provided crucial leads that eventually led to the successful operation against Jora. The investigation revealed that during the Jangpura burglary, Jora and his accomplices had allegedly received information about valuables from the victim's domestic help, Basanti.
Republic Day Recognition Ceremony
The felicitation program on Republic Day was attended by several dignitaries including District Deputy Commissioner Ajay Kumar and Police Commissioner Vikas Kumar Arora. Along with Constable Balauria, several other police personnel received commendation certificates for their service:
- Sub-Inspector Lalit Kumar
- Sub-Inspector Chandrakanta
- Sub-Inspector Arun
- Assistant Sub-Inspector Ravindra
- Assistant Sub-Inspector Yashpal
The ceremony highlighted the Haryana Police's commitment to recognizing bravery and dedication in law enforcement, particularly in complex cases involving cross-border criminal networks.
