Four arrested for shooting down Mhow advocate

INDORE: Police on Tuesday arrested four persons for allegedly killing advocate Yogesh Garg in Mhow over a property dispute on November 18.
The murder was executed by two employees of property broker Mangilal Thakur, who fostered enmity with Garg over a land deal, DIG Santosh Kumar Singh told media here.
Thakur, along with his accomplices Vikas Chouhan, Sawan Khode and Suresh alias Suraj Thakur were arrested by police following a short investigation helped by CCTV footage of assailants fleeing the spot.Vikas had fired the fatal shots, while Sawan was riding the motorcycle used in the escape. Suresh helped the duo flee the spot.
“Mangilal Thakur, who owns firm Thakur Properties, had hatched the plan to eliminate advocate Garg over a dispute related to a piece of land. Garg had blocked any dealing regarding the land by filing a petition in the court,” Singh said.
Thakur hired Vikas Chouhan, who has been working with him from the past four years, to shoot Garg. The plan was hatched before Diwali and the four accused conducted a recce to identify the spot where Garg will be shot at, said the DIG.
The shooting took place moments after Garg came out of his office on Sanghi Street at around 11.30 pm. He was walking towards his car parked in front of Lakhsminarayan temple when Sawan and Vikas approached him on a black Pulsar motorcycle. Vikas, riding pillion, fired two bullets that lodged in his chest and neck.
Some other advocates who were standing nearby first rushed him to Mewara Hospital in Kishanganj and later he was referred to Indore. He died during treatment.
Singh said some of the eyewitnesses told police that the assailants had been loitering around Garg’s office for about half an hour prior to the incident and were waiting for Garg to come out. After shooting at Garg the assailants fled towards Hari Phatak.
“We were able to trace the accused with the help of CCTV footage from the cameras at various shops on Sanghi Street. Four persons have been arrested and booked under section 302 (murder) of the IPC. We are further trying to find the people who helped in procuring the arms used in firing,” said DIG adding that a pistol, a car and an SUV has been seized.
There are over 15 different cases registered at various police stations against Thakur.
“Thakur and his cousin Suresh were involved in murder of Manoj Khaparde and Dilip Loghwal in 2010. Another case of murder and two cases of attempt to murder are registered against Thakur.
Vikas Chouhan has been previously booked for rape at Kishanganj police station and Sawan also has some cases against him,” said Kalyan Chakrawarty, superintendent of police (SP).