Ferozepur shopkeeper murder: Two Rajasthan shooters held in J&K under Op Hill Trap
Synopsis
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force cracked a cross-state murder case in days — tracing two Rajasthan-based shooters from Ferozepur to a Jammu and Kashmir hillside under a covert operation codenamed 'Hill Trap'. The recovery of a loaded Beretta pistol and the revelation of one accused's prior criminal record point to a wider gangster network that investigators are now working to dismantle.
Key Takeaways
Punjab AGTF , in a joint operation with Ferozepur and Jammu and Kashmir Police, arrested two shooters on 7 June under operation 'Hill Trap' .
Accused identified as Vishnu Kumar (Bharatpur, Rajasthan) and Rahul Mahawar (Kota, Rajasthan).
The duo allegedly murdered Gurcharan Singh Gaba , owner of Gaba General Store in Makhu village, Ferozepur , on 1 June by firing three rounds from a motorcycle.
A .30 bore Beretta pistol and 10 cartridges were recovered from the accused.
Vishnu Kumar had a prior criminal record and carried a ₹10,000 reward declared by Rajasthan Police.
Police are now investigating the larger conspiracy, including those who planned, financed, or facilitated the attack.
Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has arrested two Rajasthan-based shooters in connection with the murder of a Ferozepur shopkeeper, in a joint operation conducted in Jammu and Kashmir on 7 June. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the arrests, identifying the accused as residents of Bharatpur and Kota districts of Rajasthan.
Who Was Arrested
The two accused have been identified as Vishnu Kumar, a resident of Rupbas in Rajasthan's Bharatpur, and Rahul Mahawar, a resident of Anantpura in Rajasthan's Kota. Police recovered one .30 bore Beretta pistol along with 10 cartridges from their possession at the time of arrest.
The Murder: What Happened on June 1
According to police, two assailants arrived on a motorcycle at Makhu village in Ferozepur on 1 June and fired three rounds from a pistol, killing Gurcharan Singh Gaba, owner of Gaba General Store. Preliminary investigation has revealed that accused Vishnu Kumar has a criminal background involving extortion, robbery, dacoity, theft, and Arms Act violations. He was also reportedly carrying a reward of ₹10,000 declared by the Rajasthan Police.
Operation Hill Trap: How the Accused Were Traced
Additional Director General of Police (AGTF) Promod Ban said a special operation codenamed 'Hill Trap' was launched by the AGTF Punjab under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Rajan Parminder Singh. Extensive raids were conducted across Rajasthan, and human intelligence gathered during those raids led investigators to trace the accused's hideout to Jammu and Kashmir.
A joint team comprising AGTF Punjab, Ferozepur Police, and Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted the accused at a checkpoint on the Patnitop-Kud Road near Kud Police Station in Jammu and Kashmir. According to police, the accused allegedly attempted to evade arrest before being overpowered and detained.
Larger Conspiracy Under Investigation
Senior Superintendent of Police (Ferozepur) Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said investigative teams are now focused on uncovering the broader network behind the attack — including identifying those who may have planned, financed, or facilitated the killing. DGP Yadav confirmed that further investigation is underway. This arrest is part of a wider crackdown by the Punjab AGTF on gangster networks that have increasingly recruited shooters from neighbouring states to carry out targeted killings.
Point of View
Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir are increasingly outsourcing targeted killings to hired shooters from distant states, complicating jurisdictional response. The fact that one accused already carried a Rajasthan Police reward suggests intelligence-sharing between states had room to act earlier. The real test now is whether investigators can climb the chain — from trigger-pullers to the planners and financiers — before the network regroups. Without dismantling the logistics layer, such arrests, however competent operationally, remain tactical wins in a strategic stalemate.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was killed in the Ferozepur shopkeeper murder case?
Gurcharan Singh Gaba , owner of Gaba General Store in Makhu village, Ferozepur , was shot dead on 1 June when two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and fired three rounds from a pistol.
Who were the two shooters arrested by Punjab Police?
The arrested accused are Vishnu Kumar of Rupbas, Bharatpur (Rajasthan), and Rahul Mahawar of Anantpura, Kota (Rajasthan). They were apprehended in Jammu and Kashmir during operation 'Hill Trap'.
What is Operation Hill Trap?
Operation Hill Trap is a special covert operation launched by Punjab's Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) to track the suspects in the Ferozepur murder case. It involved extensive raids in Rajasthan followed by a joint intercept operation in Jammu and Kashmir.
What evidence was recovered from the accused?
Police recovered one .30 bore Beretta pistol and 10 cartridges from the accused at the time of their arrest near Kud Police Station on the Patnitop-Kud Road in Jammu and Kashmir.
Is the investigation still ongoing?
Yes. According to SSP Ferozepur Bhupinder Singh Sidhu , investigators are now focused on identifying those who planned, financed, or facilitated the attack. DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed that further investigation is underway.
