Chandigarh twin blasts: Two Goldi Brar operatives who planted the bombs arrested after encounter

In a swift action, the Chandigarh Police Crime Branch, Task Force and STF Haryana have arrested two operatives of gangster Goldi Brar wanted for the November 26 twin blasts at two Sector 26 bar-lounges after a dramatic shootout on the outskirts of Hisar on Friday.

The duo, Vinay and Ajith, both from Hisar, were shot in the legs after they fired at ASI Sandeep and ASI Anup, who escaped unhurt with the help of bulletproof vests. During the firefight, both sides fired 7-8 shots. During the operation, two pistols of domestic production were also seized from them.

Despite repeated warnings to surrender, the suspects tried to escape, police said. Later, they were taken into custody and admitted to Hisar State Hospital for medical treatment.

An official statement by Surendera Yadav, Superintendent of Public Health, Chandigarh, said: “The Chandigarh Police, in a joint operation with the Haryana STF Hisar, have arrested two accused – associates of the Kala Jatedi-Goldi Brar gang – involved in the recent blasts in Sector 26, Chandigarh after skirmishes in Hisar, Haryana. During the arrest attempt, both accused opened fire on the policemen, and the policemen also opened fire in self-defense. Both accused were shot in the legs.”

The 21-year-old boys threw bombs on Brar’s instructions

During preliminary questioning, the accused, both aged 21, confessed to carrying out the attack under the direct direction of gangster Goldie Brar, a close associate of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi.

Shortly after the blasts, a Facebook post purportedly by Brar claimed responsibility, but was later deleted. The post said the blasts were a warning to club owners who refused to pay “protection money” and threatened more severe action if their demands were not met.

Satwinder Singh, alias Goldie Brar, who has been declared an “identified terrorist” by the Union home ministry, is involved in 54 cases in Punjab and Haryana, 24 of which are related to extortion.

On January 19 this year, Sector-5 businessman Kuldeep Singh lodged a complaint with the Chandigarh police after four men on two motorcycles fired at his house and targeted his SUV. An FIR was lodged on charges of extortion when the attackers were found to be extorting ₹3 crores from Singh in the name of Goldi Brara.

A CCTV trail led police to the duo

According to police, both Vinay and Ajith, who have a criminal record, had scouted the target locations before carrying out the blasts in the early hours of Tuesday. Both play kabaddi. Ajith, a class 10, has a previous case registered under the Arms Act in Hisar. He hails from Harar village in Hisar.

Vinay, a graduate with a bachelor’s degree, hails from Dew village in Hisar.

The breakthrough in the case came thanks to CCTV footage at the Hisar toll road where the suspects were seen taking the lift. Vinay, who hurled bombs at both clubs, was caught on CCTV outside the club wearing a white and brown shawl. A man wearing the same shawl was later spotted at the Hisar toll plaza, raising suspicions about the movement of the suspects in the area.

After escaping from Chandigarh, they passed through Mohali and took a circuitous route through the Dappar toll plaza before reaching Behbalpur village in Hisar. The attackers boarded a bus from Dappar toll plaza and went to Behbalpur village in Hisar. From there, the accused first picked up a motorcyclist who dropped them off some distance ahead. Later, they again picked up the driver of a Hyundai Verna car, who dropped them further along the route.

The explosions occurred between 3:15 and 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The first blast took place at the Seville Bar Lounge at SCO No. 17, owned by Punjabi rapper Badshah. A few minutes later, a second explosion was reported near the De’Orra dance bar at SCO number 23, about 30 meters away. Experts confirmed that the explosions were caused by “sutli” bombs, improvised explosive devices made using jute rope, nails and shrapnel.

On Thursday, the police arrested Arjun Thakur, co-owner of De’Orra Club, in an extortion case. Thakur is known to have links with gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. He allegedly demanded money from the club’s other co-owner, Nikhil Chaudhary, in the form of a defense fee. Police said the Bishnoi gang’s attack on the De’Orra club was unusual, especially since Thakur, son of a Chandigarh police officer, was still running the club. This aspect of the case remains pending.