The Crime Unit of Kharkhoda has arrested two individuals involved in the murder of wrestler Rakesh, who was shot dead during a wrestling competition a few days ago in Sonipat district, police reported.
The accused have been identified as Manoj, a resident of Sohati village in Sonipat, and Sahil, a resident of Maharana village in Jhajjar district.
According to the Sonipat police spokesperson, on February 26, Chand, a resident of Sohati, filed a complaint at the Kharkhoda police station. He stated that his nephew, Rakesh (35), a wrestler who had a wrestling arena (akhara) in Sohati village, had been involved in a land dispute with Manoj and his family for the past six to seven months. This dispute led to an altercation and assault, further escalating the enmity between Rakesh and Manoj.
Chand’s complaint detailed that Rakesh, who lived with his children in Omex City, Rohtak, always supported his uncle in the land dispute, intensifying the conflict with Manoj.
On the day of the incident, February 26, Rakesh, along with his son Amrit, was attending a wrestling competition (Dangal) in Kundal village. After the match, at around 5:15 PM, they were heading to their vehicle when Manoj and his nephew Sahil, armed with pistols, arrived. Without any warning, they opened fire on Rakesh with the intent to kill him. As Rakesh ran for his life, Manoj and Sahil pursued him and fired more shots. Rakesh collapsed after a short distance, and they fired more shots at him before fleeing the scene.
Mahant Suryanath, a resident of Sohati, arrived shortly after and took Rakesh in his vehicle to Kharkhoda, where a doctor declared him dead upon arrival.
The Crime Unit of Kharkhoda, led by Inspector Satyawan, arrested the two accused. After their arrest, they were presented in court and remanded to seven days of police custody as per the court’s orders.
