Panic gripped the Hisar district court premises in Haryana on Thursday afternoon when unidentified assailants shot dead gangster Vinod Panu, alias Kana, in broad daylight. The attack took place immediately after Panu walked out of the court building following his acquittal in a five-year-old attempt to murder case. Waiting near the entrance, masked gunmen unleashed a barrage of bullets, striking Panu around 10 times and killing him on the spot. The sudden heavy firing triggered a widespread stampede inside the court complex as lawyers, litigants, and staff scrambled for safety. Preliminary police investigations point toward a long-standing inter-gang rivalry dating back to 2008 as the primary motive behind the assassination.
High-Noon Shootout at Hisar Court Complex: Step-by-Step Chronology
According to court records and eyewitness accounts, Vinod Panu had arrived at the Hisar court on Thursday along with 11 companions to attend the final hearing of a five-year-old attempt to murder case. After the court pronounced their acquittal, Panu and his group prepared to leave the premises in a convoy of luxury vehicles. Shortly before leaving, a video showing the convoy had been uploaded on social media. Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating whether the attackers tracked Panu's live movements and exact location through this social media upload.
Sources indicate that Panu had anticipated a threat to his life. Driven by security concerns, he attempted to drive his vehicle deep inside the court complex. However, security personnel posted at the main gate denied entry to the vehicle citing standard court protocols. As a result, Panu was forced to walk on foot toward the court block with his aides. Waiting in ambush, two masked assailants intercepted them and opened fire at point-blank range with automatic firearms.
14 Rounds Fired, Gangster Riddled with 10 Bullets
The violent assault unfolded around 2:00 PM when the gunmen executed a rapid-fire attack, discharging 14 rounds of ammunition within seconds. About 10 bullets directly hit Vinod Panu, causing him to collapse in a pool of blood. Exploiting the ensuing panic and chaos, the two assailants attempted to flee the scene. However, Panu's companions acted swiftly, chasing the fleeing hitmen across the court compound and managing to tackle one of them.
Desperate to escape, the trapped shooter opened fire while being subdued, hitting Panu's associate Ravindra in the thigh. Despite suffering a gunshot wound, the companions held onto the shooter until police intervened. Panu and his two injured aides, Ravindra and Yogesh, were rushed in a Fortuner vehicle to Sapra Multispeciality Hospital in Hisar. Attending doctors declared Vinod Panu dead on arrival, while emergency medical intervention was initiated for his injured companions.
Five-Hour Emergency Surgery at Sapra Hospital and Ravindra's Medical Status
The shootout left two of Panu's associates severely wounded. The injured have been identified as Ravindra, a resident of Umra village in Hansi, and Yogesh, hailing from Mandoli village in Bhiwani district. Ravindra suffered a critical abdominal gunshot wound during the struggle to nab the fleeing assailant. A specialized medical team led by Dr. Tarun Sapra and Dr. Pankaj at Sapra Multispeciality Hospital performed an intensive five-hour emergency surgery to repair the extensive internal damage.
Medical experts reported that the bullet penetrated Ravindra's abdomen, causing severe trauma to his ureter, urinary bladder, and the posterior rectal area. Surgeons spent five hours repairing the perforated organs and stanching internal hemorrhaging. Ravindra's condition remains critical but stable, and he has been placed under strict 72-hour ICU observation to monitor for potential internal bleeding or post-operative infections. The second injured associate, Yogesh, sustained shrapnel wounds during the initial burst of fire and is currently recovering in stable condition. Forensic specialists are analyzing bullet casings to determine the precise calibers used in the crime.
Roots of Conflict in Thurana Village: History of Panu vs Ajit Pahlwan Gangwar
Police background checks reveal that both Vinod Panu and his arch-rival Ajit Pahlwan belong to Thurana village under the Narnaund block of Hisar district. The feud between the two factions began in 2008 over local dominance and control. Over the past 16 years, the bloody feud resulted in numerous violent clashes and multiple casualties on both sides. During one such violent encounter years ago, Panu lost vision in one eye due to severe injuries, earning him the moniker 'Kana' within criminal networks.
Vinod Panu carried an extensive criminal record. According to Hisar police files, he faced 31 criminal cases involving murder, attempt to murder, extortion, and armed robbery. He had also been accused of masterminding the murder of the personal assistant (PA) to Hisar MLA Savitri Jindal. Reports indicate that Ajit Pahlwan was released on bail from prison approximately two months ago, while Panu had also been released on bail from Karnal jail just days before his death. Their concurrent presence outside prison had raised intelligence concerns regarding fresh gang warfare in the region.
Police Investigation, Arrest of Attacker, and Security Concerns
Following the shooting, Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddhant Jain arrived at the scene with a heavy police force to secure the court complex and oversee evidence collection. Forensic units cordoned off the crime scene and recovered 14 empty shell casings. The assailant captured by Panu's associates has been identified as Rakesh, son of Balraj and a resident of Kharar village. Initial verification revealed that Rakesh already has 7 criminal cases registered against him. Police recovered the illegal firearm used in the crime from his possession.
Hisar police are subjecting Rakesh to rigorous interrogation to uncover the wider conspiracy, identify the masterminds, and track down the second gunman who managed to escape. The incident has raised grave questions regarding security arrangements at district courts, where armed men managed to enter with illegal weapons. Law enforcement officials stated that multiple specialized police teams have been deployed to capture the remaining suspect and bring all co-conspirators to justice.
