New Delhi: In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police foiled an international contract killing plot and arrested four men from Punjab’s Ludhiana who were allegedly hired by a Canada-based handler to eliminate a local resident named Sunny in East Delhi’s Mandawali area.
The accused — Gurinder Singh alias Sahil (21), Balpreet Singh (21), Sachin Kumar (21), and Pradeep Pandey (22) — were nabbed while scouting for their target near a community centre on Budha Marg during a late-night police patrol, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania.
According to the DCP, the entire operation was orchestrated by Gurinder Singh, who had allegedly received Rs 2.5 to 3 lakh from a Canada-based handler named Amar via foreign remittances during his stay in Dubai. After returning to India, Gurinder assembled the rest of the group and travelled to Delhi on July 26.
The gang, police said, stayed at a hotel in Laxmi Nagar, visited several religious sites to mislead investigators, and procured weapons including a sword and firearms.
पूर्वी ज़िला पुलिस के मंडावली थाने की टीम ने इलाके में हुई हत्या की साज़िश को नाकाम करते हुए कम्युनिटी सेंटर, बुद्धा मार्ग, मंडावली के निकट से चार हथियारबंद आरोपियों को गिरफ्तार किया।
— DCP East Delhi (@DCPEastDelhi) July 29, 2025
एक अवैध पिस्तौल, एक देशी कट्टा, सात ज़िंदा कारतूस व एक तलवार बरामद।#DPUpdates… pic.twitter.com/9yLI3ort32
On the day of their arrest, Gurinder reportedly pointed a pistol at police officers but was swiftly overpowered. The other three were also found in possession of loaded firearms, live cartridges, and bladed weapons.
Criminal Profiles:
- Gurinder Singh: Class 12 pass-out, technician, mastermind of the operation.
- Balpreet Singh: Wi-Fi technician, pulled in under pressure from Gurinder.
- Sachin Kumar: Initially reluctant, later enticed by monetary reward.
- Pradeep Pandey: Daily-wage labourer and school dropout with alcohol addiction, recruited by Sachin.
Police believe the group was acting on direct instructions from their Canada-based contact, and international financial channels may have been used to fund the operation.
The accused are being interrogated further to identify other operatives and links to foreign crime syndicates. Authorities are also probing the motive behind targeting Sunny and the potential involvement of more handlers in India and abroad.
