In a significant breakthrough, the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested two alleged shooters involved in the brutal killing of a 52-year-old dairy owner in South Delhi's Aya Nagar last November. The victim, Ratan Lohiya, was shot a staggering 69 times near his residence.
Dwarka Encounter Leads to Arrests
The two accused, identified as Kamal and Narender alias Neetu, were apprehended in Southwest Delhi's Dwarka area following a brief exchange of fire early Tuesday morning. A police team had laid a trap for the duo, who were travelling on a motorcycle.
"On spotting the police team, the accused opened fire. In retaliation, the team members fired back, injuring both suspects in their legs," a senior police officer stated. The injured accused were subsequently admitted to a hospital. Police confirmed that the motorcycle used by them was stolen.
A Brutal and Targeted Assassination
The chilling incident occurred on November 30. Ratan Lohiya was on his way to work when a Nissan Magnite car carrying five men intercepted him and unleashed a hail of bullets. Shockingly, police investigations revealed that the assailants fired approximately 72 rounds, with 69 bullets hitting Lohiya.
Despite the victim wearing a bulletproof jacket—a fact the shooters seemed aware of—it offered little protection against the intense firing. Using CCTV footage, police identified Kamal, Narender, and one Anuj Chaudhary as the primary shooters. The identities of the two other individuals in the car remain unknown. Anuj and the other accomplices are still at large.
Gang War and Revenge Motive
Police have linked Lohiya's murder to a spiralling gang rivalry and a revenge plot. The investigation suggests the killing was a fallout from the murder of Arun Lohiya (25) in May 2025 near Chattarpur Metro Station, which was rooted in a property and financial dispute. Ratan Lohiya's elder son, Deepak Lohiya, was arrested in connection with Arun's killing.
According to police, Kamal, who is Arun Lohiya's uncle, sought revenge for his nephew's death. He allegedly enlisted help from two notorious gangs: the US-based Neeraj Faridpuria-Himanshu Bhau gang and the Western Uttar Pradesh-based Randeep Bhati gang.
Narender is believed to be a member of the Faridpuria-Bhau gang, while Anuj Chaudhary is suspected to be a shooter for the Bhati gang. Police records show Kamal faces at least eight criminal cases in Faridabad, Haryana, and Narender has about half a dozen cases against him in the same district.
From the arrested duo, police recovered two sophisticated .30-bore pistols and 40 rounds of live cartridges. The search for the remaining accused continues as the probe into the inter-gang dynamics deepens.
