Gangwar in Gokulpeth: Goon in volley of bullets in market

NAGPUR: The gangwar among groups from Pandhrabodi led to the spine-chilling murder of Sachin Sonkuwar, 30, on Thursday afternoon. Around 10 bullets, including a couple at point blank range, were fired at Sonkuwar, who was also facing two murder charges, in full public view at the busy Gokulpeth market at 1.50pm.
Sonkuwar’s aide Suraj Dongre, 23, was lucky to escape with a skin wound as a bullet grazed him.Crime branch has already nabbed two of the three main culprits. Some six persons were learnt to be involved in the attack right outside a chowky of Ambazari police.
Sonkuwar, accused in two murder cases, sustained three bullet injuries, including one on the face and another on the head. A bullet grazed past Dongre’s temple above the right eye. A bleeding Dongre first tried to flee the spot, but then summoned an autorickshaw to rush the injured Sonkuwar to a private hospital. Sonkuwar was declared dead a couple of hours later. Police have recovered nine spent 7.65mm calibre cartridges from the spot.
The alleged mastermind of the murder Rajesh Parteki alias Raja, and his close aides Asfaque Ahmed Ansari alias Bittu (32) and Ankit Pali (25) were arrested by crime branch. Apart from Raja, one more person is learnt to have used a firearm. Police said a good quality ‘Mauser’ or pistol appears to have been used. The car used by them too was seized.
Family sources claimed Sonkuwar had married the wife of close friend Pintya, who was also murdered. Sonkuwar would mostly stay at home. He came to Gokulpeth market to pay a construction material supplier for the civil work underway at his father-in-law’s place. He wanted to buy Navratri items.
Eye-witnesses claimed that Sonkuwar and Dongre were walking away after speaking to the construction material supplier when the attack took place. The assailants, who had parked their four-wheeler in one of the lanes, approached Sonkuwar from behind. After first shooting him from behind, the gang surrounded him. Main culprit Raja is learnt to have started firing indiscriminately even as surprised onlookers started fleeing.
Many shopkeepers, who initially thought someone had set off fire crackers, started shutting their shops as the assailants sprayed bullets. After one of the bullets got stuck in the gun, Raja adjusted the firearm before firing a few more shots, including into the face, by bending over the collapsed Sonkuwar.
Sources claimed Sonkuwar, an autorickshaw driver turned goon, had murdered Shrikant Uikey alias Balya Don at a salon in Pandhrabodi in 2014. He was released from jail around a year ago after getting bail in the case. Balya’s kin and former accomplice Raja is learnt to have masterminded Sonkuwar’s murder.
Sonkuwar, also a bootlegger and operating gambling dens, had approached Ambazari police a few months ago to settle the rivalry with Raja. The settlement meeting is learnt to have gone wrong, with Sonkuwar slapping Raja in the presence of cops. This had aggravated the enmity between them.
Ambazari police have registered a case of murder and attempt to murder.
CP K Venkatesh said known criminals in each locality would now be placed under scanner.