Before leaving for Australia earlier this year to play an under-19 cricket series, he had said his aim was to make it to the Uttar Pradesh Ranji team. “If I develop the kind of variation Daniel Vettori (New Zealand captain) has, I can make it to the Ranji team. After that the sky is the limit,” Gagandeep Singh, the promising left-arm spinner who was among the two people killed in a shootout late on Friday night in Meerut, had said.

He spoke too soon. In Meerut to participate in the under-22 C.K. Nayadu tournament, Gagandeep, along with a friend, was awaiting his turn at a kabab takeaway when some men drove in and demanded they be served first. An argument ensued between the group and the restaurant owner, Shahnawaz Khan, and one of them, identified as Rahul Sirohi, shot at Khan. As the men tried to flee the scene, Gagandeep intervened, police said. Rahul shot at Gagandeep, killing him on the spot. Another man, identified as Sharif, was injured in the incident.

A case has been registered against Rahul—who surrendered before the Partapur Police Station here on Saturday morning—and his accomplices, Ankit Chauhan and Ajay Raj, under sections 360, 307 and 302 of the Indian Penal Code. Rahul, the son of a lady constable, will be presented before a metropolitan magistrate on Sunday morning. The police have recovered the .32 revolver used in the crime. Seven empty shells were recovered from the spot, Meerut SP (City) Prabal Pratap Singh said.

... contd.