Hyderabad, January 29: In a significant development, police have identified key suspects in last month’s Afzalgunj shooting incident. The assailants are believed to be a hardened gang from Bihar.
Following the December shooting, law enforcement agencies from four states initiated extensive search operations. Investigations revealed that after the incident, the suspects fled to Andhra Pradesh, then to Chennai, and subsequently to Bidar. Notably, Uttar Pradesh police have also been searching for this gang for the past year, leading to joint operations among the states. Authorities have expressed confidence in apprehending the suspects soon.
Preliminary findings indicate that two of the suspects have prior cases in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and other states. They are known to target ATM centres and travellers on highways during nighttime.
Investigation Details:
On December 20, the culprits allegedly embarked on a crime spree from Hajipur, Bihar, travelling over 2,500 kilometres on a two-wheeler. On January 16, they reportedly shot at agency personnel depositing cash at an ATM in Bidar, resulting in two fatalities and the theft of approximately ₹93 lakh. The same evening, they are suspected of committing another shooting near Roshan Travels in Afzalgunj, Hyderabad.
Hyderabad police have meticulously reviewed footage from over 500 CCTV cameras along the suspects’ route, from Afzalgunj to the Telangana state border. This extensive analysis led to the identification of the suspects as residents of Hajipur, Bihar. Teams have been dispatched to Hajipur to apprehend them, while others are tracking their escape routes.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the suspects had travelled from Bidar to Hyderabad and abandoned their two-wheeler at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station parking area.
Authorities are optimistic about making arrests soon and are coordinating with police departments across multiple states to ensure a thorough investigation.
