Video from standoff (Image Credit: X)

MEERUT: A 30-year-old man shot dead his estranged wife’s partner in broad daylight near the Sanatan Dharma temple in the Ramraj area of Bahsuma on Wednesday, police said. Investigators said Pradeep Dhiman intercepted Sunil Gaba, 31, also known as Surendra, while he was travelling on a motorcycle and fired three shots at him using country-made weapons of different types. Gaba collapsed at the scene and died of his injuries.Shortly after shooting Gaba, Dhiman appeared in a live video on social media in which he admitted to the killing. Holding a firearm, he said he had used three different weapons and cited what he described as a long-standing domestic dispute involving his wife’s relationship with Gaba. “I have three weapons of different bore and used all three to kill him,” he said in the video, also issuing threats against his wife.According to police, the dispute began about 18 months ago when Dhiman’s wife, Poonam, left the matrimonial home and started living with Gaba. The matter was later brought before a panchayat in Sanauta village. Villagers said Poonam refused to return, and Dhiman allegedly threatened her during the proceedings. The disagreement widened over custody of their two children. Poonam sought to take them with her, but the village council handed custody to Dhiman. The couple formally separated, and Poonam continued to live with Gaba, residents said.Police launched a search for Dhiman after the shooting. On Thursday, acting on leads, officers located him in a sugarcane field in the Bahsuma area. He was carrying a country-made pistol when police surrounded him with service weapons drawn. Dhiman purportedly shouted at the police in the video to “keep the weapons inside” and that while police might commit his “half murder” in an encounter, he was prepared to commit his own “full murder” by taking his life on the spot.Police said they engaged him in conversation and persuaded him to surrender. After sustained negotiation, he was taken into custody without further incident. SP (rural) Abhijeet Kumar told TOI, “We arrested the prime accused in the murder that took place in Behsuma. Further legal proceedings are on.” Police said the weapons have been recovered and the social media video is being examined as evidence.