Jhajjar police have apprehended two youths in connection with the attempted murder of a local restaurant owner, five days after the crime took place. Authorities also seized the motorbike and pistol used in the attack. Reports suggest that the incident stemmed from a longstanding dispute between the victim, Sandeep Saini, and one of the accused, dating back over a year.
Inspector Vivek Malik, head of the CIA Jhajjar, confirmed that the arrested individuals are Udham, a resident of Kheri Hoshdarpur village, and Pardeep, from Goyala Kalan village. Notably, Pardeep has a history of serious criminal offenses, including murder, robbery, attempted murder, and multiple violations of the Arms Act. He was previously convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a woman but was out on bail at the time of the attack.
The attack occurred on the night of March 20 when Sandeep, the proprietor of Swastik Sweets and Restaurant, was driving home to Subhash Nagar, Jhajjar. According to Malik, “Two unidentified men on a motorbike stopped Sandeep under the pretext of asking for directions to Rewari Road. As he gestured to g
uide them, one of the assailants asked him to roll down his car window. The moment he did, they opened fire, striking him in the arm as the bullet shattered the window.”
The attackers fled the scene immediately, leaving Sandeep injured. A passerby rushed him to the Civil Hospital for initial treatment before he was referred to PGIMS Rohtak. Initially, Sandeep had no suspicion about his assailants, making the case a challenging one for investigators.
A joint team from the Jhajjar CIA and City Police Station meticulously analyzed CCTV footage to trace the suspects’ escape route. Assistance from the cyber cell proved instrumental in identifying the perpetrators, leading to the arrest of Udham and Pardeep on Monday. During interrogation, both confessed to orchestrating and executing the attack.
Investigations revealed that the motive was rooted in a dispute from 2023 when Udham, celebrating his birthday at Sandeep’s restaurant, got into an altercation with the owner. Seeking revenge, he contacted Pardeep, who then stole a motorbike and acquired a firearm to carry out the attack.
Baldev Singh, SHO of the City Police Station, disclosed that “Pardeep, who was riding pillion, fired at Sandeep from close range.” He further noted that the motorbike used in the crime had been stolen from a liquor vendor in Raiya village. The duo had conspired a day before the attack to ambush Sandeep.
The accused are now in police custody, and further investigations are underway to uncover additional details of their criminal activities.
