SRINAGAR: Three men accused in the sensational daylight killing of a pharmacy cashier in Chandigarh have been arrested from Jammu and Kashmir following a multi-state manhunt that stretched across Punjab, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, with investigators now probing possible links to organised crime syndicates and extortion networks.
The victim, 45-year-old Janki Das, was shot dead inside Shree Kumar Medical Shop in Chandigarh’s busy Sector 11 market on June 13. The brazen attack, captured on CCTV, showed two masked assailants entering the pharmacy and opening fire at close range before fleeing on a motorcycle driven by a third accomplice.
Police identified the accused as Sunny Mehra, 22, a resident of Samba district; Aryan Sharma, 21, of Rajouri district; and Amit Kumar, also from Samba. Officials said Sunny was the alleged shooter, Aryan waited outside on a motorcycle, while Amit accompanied Sunny inside the pharmacy and is believed to be the key conspirator.
According to investigators, the trio arrived in Chandigarh on a stolen motorcycle bearing a Punjab registration number and stayed in the city before carrying out what police described as an execution-style killing. After the attack, they allegedly escaped through Sector 43, boarded a bus to Delhi and later travelled by train to Jammu and Kashmir in an attempt to evade arrest.
The breakthrough came after an intensive investigation involving CCTV analysis, hotel records, intelligence inputs and technical surveillance across multiple states. A Special Investigation Team comprising personnel from the Crime Branch, Operations Cell, District Crime Cell and Sector 11 police station tracked the suspects to Jammu and Kashmir.
Sunny and Aryan were arrested in Jammu on Wednesday, while Amit was apprehended near Samba on Thursday. Police said Amit’s arrest is expected to help uncover the larger conspiracy behind the murder, including possible connections with organised criminal groups and extortion rackets.
The case took another dramatic turn when the two arrested accused allegedly attempted to escape while being transported to Chandigarh on transit remand. According to police, the vehicle carrying them met with a minor accident near Panjab University. During the incident, the accused allegedly gained access to a weapon that fell during the impact and attempted to flee.
Inspector General Pushpendra Kumar said the accused ignored warnings and allegedly fired at the police team, prompting retaliatory firing. Both Sunny and Aryan sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were shifted to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, for treatment. Separate legal proceedings have been initiated regarding the escape attempt.
Police said the weapon used in the murder has not yet been recovered and is believed to be in Amit’s possession.
Investigators are also examining claims made by Canada-based gangster Goldy Dhillon, who allegedly took responsibility for the attack through social media posts and audio messages. Authorities are probing whether the killing was linked to extortion demands, a targeted attack on local businessmen or a wider criminal conspiracy.
While police have ruled out nothing at this stage, they said there is currently no evidence suggesting that Janki Das was killed in a case of mistaken identity. The motive behind the murder remains under investigation.
Chandigarh Director General of Police Dr. Sagar Preet Hooda said the arrests marked only the first phase of the investigation. He said the focus had now shifted to identifying those who planned, financed and facilitated the crime, and dismantling any organised criminal network operating behind the scenes.
The murder had sent shockwaves across Chandigarh, particularly because the assailants managed to escape from a crowded market located close to a police naka. With all three accused now in custody, investigators hope to unravel the full conspiracy behind one of the city’s most audacious killings in recent years.
