In a significant breakthrough, the police in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, have successfully resolved the case of a life-threatening attack on a bank employee that occurred four days ago. Three suspects, including the victim's former girlfriend, have been arrested for planning and executing the shooting. Investigators revealed that the attack was born out of a bitter romantic dispute, with a contract (supari) of Rs 5 Lakh being paid to professional shooters to eliminate the bank employee. Following a gunfight on Friday, the police apprehended the main shooter, who was wounded in the leg, and subsequently arrested the mastermind and her associate.
The Ambush on the Bank Employee
The incident took place on September 8 in the Badowala area of Patel Nagar in Dehradun. The victim, identified as Satyam Kumar, is employed at the Dehradun branch of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank. On the day of the incident, Satyam was returning home on a scooter with his cousin, Sakshi Chauhan, from Mandi Chowk. As they reached a certain point, two unidentified young men riding a motorcycle intercepted them. Without warning, the assailants opened fire at Satyam, leaving him critically injured before speeding away. Following the ambush, Sakshi Chauhan filed a formal complaint at the Patel Nagar police station, leading to the registration of a case under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 109(1) and 3(5) against unidentified individuals.
CCTV Analysis and Digital Surveillance
Under the direction of SP Jitendra Chaudhary, multiple police teams were deployed to track down the assailants. Investigators meticulously scanned CCTV footage from the crime scene and adjacent escape routes. Through a combination of electronic surveillance and intelligence from confidential informants, the police successfully identified the culprits. On Friday, the police received credible intelligence that the two shooters involved in the attack had returned to Dehradun. Acting swiftly on this information, the police set up barricades and commenced rigorous vehicle inspections in the Patel Nagar area to intercept them.
An Encounter in the Tea Garden
During the checking, police officers spotted two suspicious individuals riding a motorcycle that did not display a registration plate. When signaled to pull over, the suspects accelerated and attempted to flee. A high-speed chase ensued. Realizing they were being cornered, the suspects abandoned their motorcycle on a path inside a tea garden and fled on foot into the dense forest. While running, they began firing directly at the pursuing police team. In self-defense, the police retaliated, shooting one of the suspects, Ankit Chauhan, in the leg. His accomplice, Ankur, managed to escape by exploiting the darkness of the forest. The police took the injured Ankit Chauhan into custody and rushed him to a nearby hospital for treatment. A country-made pistol (tamancha), a spent cartridge casing, and the numberless motorcycle were recovered from the scene.
Confession Unveils the Contract Killing Conspiracy
While undergoing treatment at the hospital, Ankit Chauhan confessed to his involvement in the crime during police interrogation. He disclosed that he was introduced to Maliya Rahman through an associate named Mohit. Maliya had hired Ankit and Ankur to assassinate Satyam Kumar for a total sum of Rs 5 Lakh. Ankit further revealed that they had returned to Dehradun on Friday specifically to collect the outstanding balance of their payment. Armed with this critical information and backed by electronic tracking, police launched a late-night operation and arrested Maliya Rahman (26) and Mohit (25) near the ISBT. Police noted that the injured shooter, Ankit Chauhan, has a prior criminal history.
A Tale of Love, Marriage, and Betrayal
Maliya Rahman, a 26-year-old resident of Jwalapur in Haridwar, detailed the motive behind the conspiracy during her interrogation. She stated that she was employed at the Haridwar branch of Ujjivan Small Finance Bank from 2020 to 2023. It was during this tenure that she met Satyam Kumar, and the two entered into a romantic relationship. In 2023, bowing to intense family pressure, Maliya married a resident of Saharanpur. However, she maintained contact with Satyam even after her marriage. This ongoing communication eventually wrecked her marriage, leading to a divorce from her husband.
Enraged by Engagement and Social Media Block
Maliya claimed that Satyam had repeatedly promised to marry her once she was free. Meanwhile, in 2025, Satyam was transferred to the Dehradun branch of the bank and subsequently got engaged to another woman. Following his engagement, Satyam began avoiding Maliya and drastically reduced communication. To sever all ties, he blocked her across various social media platforms. Consumed by anger and feeling betrayed, Maliya decided to eliminate him. She enlisted the assistance of Mohit to hire professional shooters, arranging a Rs 5 Lakh contract to execute the plan. The police are currently conducting raids to capture the remaining fugitive shooter, Ankur, as the investigation continues.
