TV journalist attack: One sharp shooter, four assailants arrested

Ghaziabad Police have arrested five assailants involved in a shooting attack of TV journalist Anuj Choudhary on Tuesday. One of the accused, who is a sharp shooter and contractual killer, was arrested after an encounter in Sihani area late night on Monday. The shooter and SHO of Sihani Gate were injured in the encounter, police said.

According to the police, the conspiracy to kill Anuj was planned in Dasna jail by the former councilor and criminal Shekhar Chaudhary. Shekhar and Anuj have a two-and-half decade old family enmity during which three persons have been murdered and there are few recorded attempts murder also. Anuj's elder brother Musa alias Sansarpal Singh was shot dead in 1993 by Shekhar.

The accused have been identified as Vishal Chaudhary, son of Shekhar Chaudhary, Bobby, Vikas, Yogendra alias Tunda. All the four accused were arrested from Madhuban Bapudham area.

"The main shooter of the attack Rohit Yadav, a resident of Nagla, Kasganj, presently residing in Shalimar Garden, Sahibabad was arrested during an encounter in Ator Nangla jungle on Monday night. He was injured while Vinod Kumar Pandey, SHO Sihani Gate was also gun injured," said Akash Tomar, Superintendent of Police(City), Ghaziabad.

Police recovered a licensed revolver of victim Anuj from Vishal that was looted after they shot him, and one pistol .32mm, three country-made pistols of 315 bore. The police also recovered .30 mm pistol that was used to shoot Anuj Chaudhary and a pulsar bike from the possession of the main shooter Rohit Yadav.

"The .30 mm pistol used to shoot and Rs 5 lakh were provided to Rohit by Vishal Chaudhary. Rohit had taken Rs 7 lakh for killing Anuj. Rohit had been imprisoned for the murder of Vijay in Dasna jail where Shekhar is also lodged. Shekhar is in Dasna jail for two years in an attempt to murder case of BJP leader Brijpal Tewatia," said Tomar.

Shekhar was shocked after the defeat of his daughter-in-law in the election of councilor of Nagar Nigam. Shekhar's daughter-in-law was defeated by Nishi Chaudhary, wife of Anuj Chaudhary. After the political success of the family, Shekhar could not tolerate this and he conspired to get Anuj killed," said Tomar.