The Panchkula Police Crime Branch has arrested the mastermind behind a gunpoint taxi robbery and related murder conspiracy, a 21-year-old Hamza, originally from Saharanpur and currently residing in Kishanpura, Yamunanagar. He was apprehended on December 8 and placed on a four-day police remand, during which a country-made pistol and two live cartridges were recovered.
Hamza, who was carrying a ₹5,000 reward, is already facing five serious cases, including attempt to murder and violations of the Arms Act registered in Paonta Sahib. During questioning, he revealed the identity of an accomplice, leading to the arrest of arms supplier Jaswinder Singh alias Jassi (21) of Paonta Sahib on December 10. Jassi was produced in court and placed on a three-day remand.
The case stems from the November 19 robbery of a taxi driver near the Ramgarh bridge, where a Tata Nexon was stolen at gunpoint. Investigations revealed that four accused were involved. The night prior, they had snatched a mobile phone in Chandigarh and later used an app on the stolen device to book the taxi they robbed. The group had also allegedly planned to use the stolen car to murder a youth named Rishabh in Paonta Sahib.
DCP Crime and Traffic Manpreet Singh Soodan stated that three accused—Rohit Dhiman, Bittu Thakur, and Satbir—were previously arrested, and the stolen car, two pistols, and six live cartridges recovered. With the arrests of Hamza and Jassi, all five accused in the case are now in custody.
