Two wanted criminals linked to Najafgarh double murder arrested in encounter

Following a brief exchange of gunfire, two suspects linked to the Najafgarh double murder were apprehended in Gurugram early Friday morning after sustaining injuries during an operation by a joint team of the Gurugram Police Crime Branch and the Delhi Police Special Cell, officials said.

The arrested men have been identified as Mohit Jakhad, 29, of Goyla Khurd, Chhawla, and Jatin Rajput, 21, from Vipin Garden, Dwarka Mor. Police had placed a Rs 50,000 bounty on each of them.

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The duo was wanted in connection with the murder of Neeraj Tehlan, who was shot dead inside his car in Najafgarh on July 4 this year.

Tehlan, who had a criminal background, was a key witness in the high-profile double murder of two bookies, Sonu, 34, and Ashish, 21, who were shot at point-blank range inside a salon in Najafgarh in February 2024.

The police said the two were shot in the legs while attempting to flee on a motorcycle as a joint team of Gurugram and Delhi police tried to intercept them near Dhankot. Special Cell sub-inspector Vikas also sustained a bullet wound in his left arm, while head constable Narpat narrowly escaped injury after his bulletproof vest stopped a bullet fired by the suspects during the chase.

Sandeep Turan, public relations officer of Gurugram Police, said the suspects fired six rounds at the teams pursuing them. “The raiding team members had retaliated by firing seven rounds, including the initial warning shot,” Turan added in his statement further.

He said the injured sub-inspector, along with the two suspects apprehended after the encounter, was immediately taken to Sector-10A Civil Hospital for treatment. Two pistols, four live, and 13 empty cartridges, along with a stolen motorcycle, were recovered from the spot after the encounter, he said.

The duo will be arrested after being discharged and will be interrogated.

An FIR for murder attempt and other provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered against them.

Najafgarh was shaken last year on February 9 when two men, Sonu and Ashish, were shot dead inside a salon while getting a haircut. CCTV footage of the brazen killings later emerged, intensifying the investigation. As the probe unfolded, key witness Neeraj Tehlan, who was travelling in his car, was gunned down by two assailants on a motorcycle in Najafgarh on July 3, 2025.

Following a swift and intensive manhunt, police tracked the suspects, culminating in a dramatic encounter Friday morning that led to their arrest.