MOHALI, Jan 17 — Karan Pathak, 23, the primary accused in the December 15 killing of kabaddi promoter Rana Balachauria, was killed in a police encounter near Rurki Kham village early Saturday morning. The exchange of fire occurred approximately six hours after Pathak escaped from CIA custody while being transported for a medical check-up.
The sequence of events began late Friday night when Pathak reported chest pain, prompting officials to move him to a hospital. According to Mohali Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Harmandeep Singh Hans, the police vehicle struck a divider in dense fog, providing Pathak an opportunity to escape. SSP Hans noted that the suspect allegedly attacked officers and fled into the darkness.
“Pathak was at large for about six to seven hours and may have procured a weapon during that time from a pre-arranged location,” the SSP mentioned during a briefing. He further noted that the suspect’s handcuffs were missing when he was eventually located by search teams from Mohali, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib.
The confrontation took place at 6:30 am near the New Chandigarh cricket stadium. Police officials said Pathak opened fire with a .30-bore pistol, leading to a retaliatory volley of nine to 10 rounds. One police officer, Constable Satinder Singh, sustained a leg injury during the incident.
“During the siege, Pathak opened fire, prompting the police to retaliate in self-defence,” SSP Hans directly said. Pathak was first taken to a local facility and later referred to the Phase-6 Civil Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Pathak, a resident of Amritsar, was identified as the shooter who killed Kanwar Digvijay Singh, also known as Rana Balachauria, at a tournament in Sohana. He was also a suspect in the murder of gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother. Authorities confirmed that two FIRs have been registered—one for the escape and another for the encounter.
