City shooting: 14-yr-old boy used as courier to send cash advance to attackers

Gurgaon: A 14-year-old schoolboy was allegedly drawn into a gangster plot that ran from Punjab to handlers abroad, asked to carry part of the advance paid to two hired shooters who opened fire outside the Gurgaon home of singer Fazilpuria’s former manager on May 2.Crime branch teams arrested Gursher Singh alias Shera (23) and Jaspal alias Babbal (28), both from Tarn Taran in Punjab, for the firing outside Saurabh Yadav’s house in Sector 45. Two days later, on May 11, Gursher was killed while allegedly trying to flee police custody.According to police, fugitive gangster Satta Naushera — a close aide of Lakhbir Singh Landa — had promised the two men Rs 20 lakh to kill Yadav. They allegedly received Rs 1.4 lakh in advance in two instalments, including Rs 1 lakh delivered near Amritsar bus stand through the schoolboy.

The remaining money was to be paid after the killing.Apart from the money, the shooters were also supplied with three Glock pistols that allegedly reached them nearly two months earlier after being smuggled from Pakistan by drone through a cross-border network. Police said the shooters had never met the courier who left the weapons for them at an assigned place in Amritsar.Officers said the attack was planned over about a month. “They were in regular touch with Satta and had prepared for the attack for a month before carrying it out.

Gursher had earlier carried out a firing in Punjab on Satta’s directions and had been named there in an attempt-to-murder case,” an officer said.Police said the men came to Gurgaon to target Yadav and fired outside his house to spread panic. Constable Kulbir, who had been deployed there after extortion complaints, suffered graze injuries on his hands and legs. During the attack, Babbal was allegedly riding the motorcycle while Gursher, seated pillion, fired.The probe is also examining the role of gangster Deepak Nandal — a music producer-turned-gangster — in orchestrating the attack, believed to stem from a monetary dispute. According to police, after Nandal came in contact with Satta, he was assured help in eliminating Yadav. “There is a possibility that Nandal may provide financial assistance to the Satta Naushera gang, which is involved in smuggling cross-border weapons into India, mainly through Punjab,” an officer said.Both Satta and Nandal have claimed responsibility for the firing. Police are now trying to establish how the two came in contact.Landa was declared a terrorist by the Union home ministry in Dec 2023. Satta, who carries a reward of Rs 5 lakh, is accused of supplying cross-border weapons to gang members in Punjab and nearby states with the help of associates in Pakistan.An FIR has been registered for attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, extortion, causing hurt to deter a public servant, and provisions of the Arms Act.