Businessman killed in botched heist; Two arrested

By Sagaya Fernando | April 14, 2025

 

LUDHIANA, INDIA – A planned robbery spiralled into a fatal encounter in Ludhiana’s Durga Colony, leaving a well-known furniture store owner dead.

Authorities have arrested two suspects and named nine others in the March 25 murder of Ram Dhani Tiwari, a businessman whose death triggered widespread outrage and market closures in protest.

Police say the group intended only to steal from the electronics and furniture store, unaware that Tiwari, 55, was sleeping inside. The attempted theft escalated when Tiwari awoke and confronted the intruders. He was overpowered, tied up, gagged, and ultimately strangled to death in a desperate attempt by the panicked thieves to silence him.

The arrests of Nand Lal Paswan and Jeet Lal, alias ‘Master,’ mark the first major breakthrough in the case. Paswan, police revealed, played a crucial role in reconnaissance and hosted the gang’s planning session at his Machhi Market residence. Jeet Lal, a resident of Dhandari Khurd, is believed to have been directly involved in the break-in.

Recovered from the duo were several stolen items, including four LED TVs, 35 mobile phones, a home theatre system, and household electronics. Despite the arrests, nine members of the gang remain at large, including the alleged ringleader, Sunil—a repeat offender currently out on bail for an earlier theft case in Fatehgarh Sahib district.

According to Assistant Commissioner of Police Jasbinder Singh, all suspects trace their roots to Bihar but have been residing in Ludhiana for several years. The wanted individuals include Roshan Mota and Mithlesh Kumar of Jagdish Colony, Sooraj Kumar and Raja Kumar of Dhandari Khurd, as well as Sonu, Satinder alias Nirhua, Radhey Shyam Yadav, and Raja Ram.

“The gang never intended to commit murder,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Mandeep Singh Sandhu. “But when the owner confronted them, the situation took a tragic turn. We are actively pursuing all leads to capture the remaining suspects and uncover any links to other unsolved crimes.”

Tiwari’s lifeless body was discovered bound and gagged, with visible blunt and sharp-force injuries. A post-mortem confirmed death by strangulation. His store, located just meters from his home, was a fixture in the community.

The brutal killing led to a spontaneous shutdown of Durga Colony Market, with locals calling for stronger policing and community protection. Punjab Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian met with the grieving family and promised swift justice and heightened surveillance measures.