Police in Gurugram say four alleged associates of fugitive gangster Deepak Nandal are killed in an encounter with the Crime Branch on Thursday evening. The incident takes place in A Block, Sushant Lok, after police report that five members of the Nandal gang hold Vishal Berry, the son of the founder of SGT University, hostage at his residence. Police say they receive a tip about armed men travelling in a Mahindra Scorpio and intercept the vehicle. When the occupants do not surrender and instead open fire, a retaliatory exchange follows. All five alleged accused are injured by bullets and are taken to a private super-speciality hospital, where four are declared dead; one remains under treatment. Authorities also report that three police personnel are injured.
Both reports describe Nandal as a music producer and rapper who worked in the Haryanvi industry earlier in his career, before allegedly building an organised crime network. Police accuse the syndicate of offences including extortion, shootings and other violent acts, and the Times of India also reports suspicions of cross-border arms smuggling. Nandal remains absconding, with police believing he may operate from abroad and direct activities from overseas locations.
