A Class XI student and aspiring javelin thrower was among four alleged shooters of the Deepak Nandal gang killed in a gun battle with the Gurugram Police Crime Branch in Sushant Lok Phase-2 late on Thursday, police sources said.
The deceased minor, identified as Aryan, was a resident of Baland (Baloth) village in Rohtak district. Investigators said he was actively pursuing athletics as a javelin player and also worked as a local bike mechanic before allegedly being recruited into the overseas-operated criminal syndicate.
Three accused from same village
Police sources said two other deceased shooters, Nitin and Ankit, also hailed from the same Rohtak village, indicating what investigators suspect is a localised recruitment network within the gang. The fourth deceased was a resident of Haryana's Fatehabad district.
The lone survivor, identified as Shivam from Bissar village in Mewat, is undergoing treatment under heavy police security.
Businessman targeted over extortion
According to investigators, the five-member gang arrived in a rented black Scorpio SUV and allegedly opened fire at the residence of a prominent businessman over a multi-crore extortion demand.
The businessman, his wife and a relative were inside the house when the attackers allegedly fired around two dozen rounds. Police are yet to officially confirm the sequence of events.
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Three Crime Branch personnel injured
A Crime Branch team, which was tracking the SUV following a control room alert, reached the spot while the firing was underway and surrounded the accused.
Police said the suspects allegedly opened fire on the team instead of surrendering, leading to an exchange of nearly 65 rounds. All five accused sustained bullet injuries and were taken to hospital, where four were declared dead. Shivam remains under treatment.
Three Crime Branch personnel were also injured in the encounter and are reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators recovered five automatic pistols, including three foreign-made weapons, from the scene. Gurugram Police are expected to provide further details on the gang's network, arms supply and the extortion racket during a formal media briefing.
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