In a chilling reminder of Delhi's persistent gang violence, 43-year-old Deepak, the nephew of notorious gangster Manjit Mahal, was shot dead in broad daylight on Friday morning in Bawana, a densely populated locality in North-West Delhi. The shocking murder, carried out by two unidentified bike-borne assailants, occurred while Deepak was on his routine morning walk with his young daughter, who was also injured in the attack.

The murder has sent shockwaves across the region and raised immediate concerns of an ongoing gang war between rival criminal factions in Delhi NCR, particularly between Manjit Mahal’s gang and the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, long known for their violent turf battles and revenge killings.

Eyewitness account of the deadly ambush

According to eyewitnesses, Deepak and his daughter were walking on a regular route in Bawana when two men on a motorcycle approached them at high speed. Without warning, the assailants opened fire, shooting multiple rounds at Deepak. He was hit several times and collapsed immediately. In the chaos, his daughter also sustained a bullet injury on her hand, adding a traumatic layer to an already horrific incident.

She was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors confirmed that she is now out of danger, though she is receiving trauma counselling due to the psychological impact of witnessing her father’s killing.

Police response and investigation

Upon being alerted, Delhi Police teams quickly arrived at the crime scene. The area was cordoned off and a forensic team was deployed to gather evidence. A senior police officer at the scene confirmed that seven to eight bullets appeared to have been fired, although the exact number of gunshot wounds will only be determined after the post-mortem.

Police officials have registered a case of murder and initiated a full-scale investigation. Multiple teams have been deployed to scan CCTV footage from the surrounding areas. Investigators are also interviewing local residents, shopkeepers, and morning walkers who may have seen or heard anything unusual before or during the incident.

Gang rivalry at the center of suspicion

Initial findings strongly indicate that the murder was a targeted killing, likely orchestrated as part of a gangland feud. Deepak, as a close relative of Manjit Mahal, a high-profile gangster currently incarcerated but known to control his operations remotely, was considered a strategic target in a long-standing rivalry.

According to sources within Delhi Police, Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu, who heads one of the most violent criminal gangs in the capital, is the prime suspect behind this attack. The Nandu gang and Manjit Mahal's faction have previously clashed over extortion territories, recruitment of shooters, and dominance in Delhi’s outer districts including Bawana, Najafgarh, and Bahadurgarh.

Officers believe the murder may be retaliatory in nature, though they are yet to establish whether Deepak was actively involved in criminal activity or merely targeted because of his family association with Manjit Mahal.

Delhi’s gang violence: A deeper crisis

Delhi has long battled inter-gang warfare, with several parts of the city including Bawana, Narela, and Najafgarh becoming hotspots for shootouts, contract killings, and extortion rackets. The city’s gang ecosystem is not only fuelled by local turf rivalries but also by links to prison-based syndicates, where jailed gang leaders continue to direct operations through mobile phones and middlemen.

Manjit Mahal, once a top sharpshooter-turned-gang leader, rose through Delhi’s criminal underworld by leading a robust extortion ring. Despite being in prison for several years, he remains a feared name, with his gang believed to control large sections of the outer Delhi belt.

In contrast, Kapil Sangwan, popularly known as Nandu, has carved his own niche and is associated with multiple shootouts, property disputes, and high-profile murders. His gang is known to operate with sophisticated weapons, often relying on hired shooters from Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.

Fear and tension in the community

Following the brutal killing, residents of Bawana have expressed fear and shock. “We walk every morning here, it’s a family-friendly area. This kind of violence is terrifying,” said a local resident. Others echoed concerns about inadequate police patrolling and rising lawlessness, particularly during early morning and late evening hours when visibility is low.

Schools, shops, and public spaces in Bawana remained open, but there was visible unease, especially among parents whose children play in the parks where the shooting occurred. Many expressed concern about how gang wars are now spilling into public spaces, putting civilians at risk, including children.

Security measures intensified

In the wake of the murder, Delhi Police have intensified patrolling in and around Bawana. Checkpoints have been erected, and specialised anti-gang units have been instructed to trace the two motorcycle-borne attackers, believed to have used a stolen vehicle and covered their faces with helmets and scarves to avoid identification.

Police are also probing whether Deepak had received any threats or warnings recently. His mobile phone and call records are being analysed to trace suspicious communications, and locations frequented by Deepak are under scrutiny.

A senior investigator told reporters, “We are not ruling out anything. The attackers were clearly briefed and knew their target. This wasn’t random—it was a message.”

What’s next in the probe

As the investigation unfolds, Delhi Police will now focus on:

• Identifying the exact role of Deepak in Manjit Mahal’s criminal network, if any.

• Locating the motorcycle used and reconstructing the attackers’ escape route through CCTV footage and mobile tower dumps.

• Tracking communication between Nandu gang members before and after the incident.

• Seeking digital evidence including WhatsApp messages and possible chatter in criminal circles.

Law enforcement agencies are also likely to intensify crackdown on known gang operatives across Delhi-NCR, especially those affiliated with either of the two gangs.

Conclusion

The cold-blooded killing of Deepak, nephew of gangster Manjit Mahal, in front of his daughter in Delhi’s Bawana has once again spotlighted the growing boldness of criminal gangs operating in the national capital. With suspected involvement of Kapil Sangwan’s Nandu gang, the murder underscores how inter-gang rivalries have now evolved into public shootouts, endangering not just gang members but also innocent bystanders.

As Delhi Police investigate the latest gang war incident, the larger question remains—how long can such brutal power struggles continue to unfold on city streets unchecked? With community safety, public order, and justice hanging in the balance, urgent counter-gang strategies may be the need of the hour.

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