Ghaziabad: The two men allegedly involved in the firing outside actor Disha Patani’s house in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh have been killed in an encounter in Ghaziabad on Wednesday, the police said.
Ravindra alias Kallu and Arun were history sheeters and active members of the Rohit Godara-Goldy Brar gang, it has been claimed. They were allegedly wanted in several cases.
The encounter took place near the Tronica City in Ghaziabad between the two and a joint team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), Haryana STF and Delhi Police.
Shots were fired outside the Patani residence in Bareilly on September 12. Disha’s father Jagdish Patani, a retired police officer, who was at home at the time. According to the FIR, the incident occurred around 3.30 am when woke up after being alerted by his dogs.
He went to the balcony and spotted two men on a motorcycle nearby. When Patani asked who they were, one of the assailants apparently said: “Kill him,” before opening fire. Patani escaped unhurt by hiding behind a balcony pillar. The police ascertained that several rounds, including two aerial shots, were fired.
The Goldy Brar gang claimed responsibility for the attack through a social media post, saying that it was in retaliation to the disrespect shown to Sanatan Dharma by members of the Patani family through remarks against saints Premanand Maharaj and Anidruddhacharya Maharaj.
The Bareilly police registered a case, and chief minister Yogi Adityanath personally spoke to Jagdish Patani. The CM also directed the police to crack the case at the earliest. Security was increased around the Patani residence as CCTV footage and crime records from neighbouring states were analysed.
According to the police, the shooters were tracked after being spotted on the same motorcycle used during the September 12 firing outside Patani’s house.
“When challenged and asked to give themselves up, the two miscreants opened fire on the police team. The policemen retaliated in self defence and the two were hit. They were rushed to a hospital where they succumbed to their injuries,” an official said.
A Glock pistol and a Zigana pistol, along with several live cartridges were seized by the police from the encounter site. Further investigation is underway to identify others linked to the gang.