Chandigarh, June 18, 2026 : In a major breakthrough, Chandigarh Police have traced and arrested two accused involved in the sensational daylight murder of a chemist shop cashier after reconstructing an elaborate 500-kilometre escape trail that stretched from Chandigarh to Jammu and Kashmir.
The accused allegedly remained in Chandigarh for several hours after the June 13 killing of 45-year-old cashier Janki Das inside Shree Kumar Medical Shop in Sector 11 before fleeing through multiple states using a combination of a stolen motorcycle, public buses and trains.
Investigators revealed on Thursday that the accused arrived in Chandigarh on a stolen motorcycle bearing a Punjab registration number and carried out the execution-style shooting in broad daylight in a crowded market. Following the attack, they quietly exited the city through Sector 43, boarded a bus to Delhi and later travelled by train to Jammu and Kashmir in an apparent attempt to evade arrest.
The case, which sparked concerns over gangster-linked extortion activities, triggered an intensive interstate investigation involving CCTV analysis, technical surveillance, transport route tracking and coordinated operations across Chandigarh, Punjab, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir.
Police arrested alleged principal shooter Sunny Mehra (22), a resident of Samba district, and alleged motorcycle rider Aryan Sharma (19) from Rajouri district in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday evening. A third accused, Amit Kumar of Samba district, remains absconding.
According to officials, the arrests were carried out through a joint operation involving the Crime Branch, Operations Cell, District Crime Cell and Sector 11 Police Station.
Dramatic Turn During Transit
The case took another dramatic turn during the transit of the accused to Chandigarh.
Police stated that the vehicle carrying the accused met with an accident behind Panjab University in the early hours of Thursday. During the incident, one of the accused allegedly gained access to a service weapon that fell during the impact and attempted to escape.
According to the official account, the accused opened fire on the police team, prompting retaliatory firing in self-defence. Both arrested accused sustained bullet injuries to their legs and were admitted to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16, for treatment.
Separate legal proceedings have been initiated in connection with the incident.
Extortion Angle Under Investigation
The murder drew national attention after Canada-based gangster Goldy Dhillon allegedly claimed responsibility through social media posts and audio messages. In the messages, he reportedly stated that “Kumar Brothers” were the intended targets and warned traders against associating with rival criminal groups.
Investigators are examining whether the killing was part of a larger extortion racket aimed at intimidating Chandigarh’s business community and whether it has links to similar threats reported in the Sector 11 market in 2018.
Sources indicated that police will extensively interrogate the arrested accused to uncover details regarding handlers, financial backers, logistical support and communication networks involved in the operation.
Focus Shifts to Masterminds
Chandigarh Director General of Police (DGP) Dr Sagar Preet Hooda said the arrests mark only the first phase of the investigation.
“The swift identification and arrest of the accused across multiple states reflects the professional and coordinated efforts of Chandigarh Police. However, our objective extends beyond apprehending the shooters. We are committed to identifying every individual involved in planning, facilitating and financing this crime. Any organised criminal or extortion network attempting to operate in Chandigarh will be pursued relentlessly and dealt with firmly in accordance with law,” he said.
Key Questions Remain
While the arrests have provided crucial leads, investigators continue to probe whether cashier Janki Das was the intended target or became a victim of mistaken identity. Authorities are also working to uncover the larger criminal network allegedly operating behind the scenes.
The case has highlighted the growing challenge posed by organised interstate criminal syndicates capable of carrying out targeted attacks and rapidly moving across jurisdictions to avoid detection.
For Chandigarh Police, the arrests represent a significant breakthrough in a case that had shaken public confidence after the assailants managed to escape from a market located close to a police checkpoint. The focus now remains on identifying the masterminds and dismantling the network that allegedly orchestrated the killing.
