Gandhinagar encounter of ‘psycho killer’: How it unfolded and why police say they had to open fire

On the afternoon of Wednesday, a routine crime-scene reconstruction by the Gandhinagar Local Crime Branch (LCB) spiralled into a deadly encounter when the accused allegedly snatched a service revolver and opened fire at the police team.

According to LCB officials, the incident took place around 4.45 pm when two teams led by Inspectors Diwansinh Vala and Hardik Parmar arrived at the spot for the reconstruction with accused Vipul Parmar. The teams were travelling in two police vehicles: the lead vehicle carried two police sub-inspectors (PSIs), a constable,driver and Vipul, while the trailing vehicle carried the two inspectors and other personnel.

Police said that in the lead vehicle the driver was seated in front with a PSI beside him. Behind them, head constable Rajendrasinh sat on the left, Vipul in the middle and PSI Patadia on the right. As the vehicle slowed near the scene, Vipul allegedly grabbed the revolver from PSI Patadia’s left side. Rajendrasinh immediately tried to overpower him and a scuffle broke out inside the moving car.

During the struggle, Rajendrasinh lunged at Vipul, who allegedly fired a shot. The bullet struck Rajendrasinh above his left elbow, grazed past the PSI in front and shattered the front windscreen before exiting the vehicle.

Wounded, Rajendrasinh collapsed to the side, allowing Vipul—still handcuffed—to fling open the door and leap out. The trailing police vehicle halted abruptly. Vipul allegedly turned back and fired indiscriminately at the second vehicle, hitting its bonnet and door panels, before running towards nearby bushes.

As the team disembarked, Vipul reportedly continued to fire while fleeing. One round whizzed past Inspector Vala’s ear, narrowly missing him. With Vipul “persistently shooting at officers”, police said, Inspectors Vala and Parmar fired back in self-defence.

The first police bullet struck Vipul in the leg, but he kept running and shooting. Officers said they were forced to fire again; this time Vipul was hit in the lower back and waist before collapsing about 30 metres away in the shrubbery.

Police rushed forward and found him unconscious. Simultaneously, the severely injured Rajendrasinh was moved to Apollo Hospital for emergency treatment. A 108 emergency medical team that arrived at the scene declared Vipul dead.

Senior officers and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team later inspected the site. An official said a detailed inquiry into the sequence of events is underway.