Man Who Shot Youth Dead in Meerut Market Held After Standoff In Field
The accused, identified as Pradeep, allegedly shot 28-year-old Sunil Gaba alias Surendra in the Ramraj area on Wednesday afternoon
Published : February 26, 2026 at 8:41 PM IST
Meerut: The man accused of shooting a youth dead in the Bahsuma police station area of Meerut has been arrested after a tense standoff with police in a field, officials said on Thursday.
The accused, identified as Pradeep, allegedly shot 28-year-old Sunil Gaba alias Surendra in the Ramraj area on Wednesday afternoon. According to police, the murder was a result of a personal dispute linked to a love affair.
The incident occurred around 2:30 pm near Sanatan Dharma Temple in the Bahsuma market. Surendra, a resident of Jagjivan Puri (Ramraj), was riding his motorcycle when an assailant approached from behind and fired a shot at his back. As Surendra fell to the ground, the attacker reportedly walked up to him and fired a second shot at close range at his temple, which killed him on the spot.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey said the accused was traced and later arrested. After the killing, Pradeep allegedly released a video in which he confessed to the murder and claimed that the police had forced him into becoming a criminal.
In the video, he accused the victim of having eloped with his wife some time ago and said he had been waiting for the “right time” to take revenge. He also issued threats, warning that if any action was taken against his family members, he would not spare those responsible, including police personnel. He claimed to have been estranged from his family and warned of consequences if they were harassed.
Following the video’s circulation, police launched a manhunt and eventually surrounded the accused near the Kalawada Rajwaha canal in the Phalawada police station area. Multiple police teams reached the spot.
Police released a video of the arrest showing Pradeep standing in the middle of a field holding a country-made pistol while officers attempted to persuade him to surrender. During the standoff, he demanded that the SSP be called to the scene and at times issued threats. Police personnel assured him that he would not be harmed and even asked if he needed food.
Before surrendering, the accused reportedly asked for permission to smoke a bidi, which police allowed. After prolonged negotiations and considerable effort, he finally laid down his weapon and surrendered without further violence.
Police have taken the accused into custody, and further investigation into the case is underway.
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