India, June 28 -- Tension and shock gripped Nangal Thakran village hours after the murder of Deepak Thakran, the 38-year-old nephew of jailed gangster Manjeet Mahal, in front of his 10-year-old daughter near Bawana on Friday morning. The unease was palpable, with heavy police deployment - nearly 30 personnel in uniform and plain clothes - stationed across the village, especially around Deepak's residence, to prevent any further violence and provide security to his family.

When HT visited the village, the mood was one of fear and grief.

At Deepak's home and the nearby crime scene, barely a kilometre apart, residents maintained silence, unwilling to speak about the murder. Both sides of the road leading to his house were lined with 60-70 ...