Karnal, Aug. 2 -- Two days after Bhim Kumar, a criminal linked to the Noni Rana gang, was gunned down in an encounter by Yamunanagar police, authorities confirmed on Friday that he was being groomed to replace slain gangster Romil Vohra as the gang's new shooter.

Bhim, also known as Arjun, a 25-year-old native of Ayodhya, was killed in Yamunanagar on Wednesday. He was wanted in 10 criminal cases, including two recent extortion-related firing incidents. The police had placed a Rs.20,000 reward on his head. According to officials, his next target was a liquor contractor in Kurukshetra.

Romil Vohra, whom Bhim was emulating, was killed in a joint operation by the Delhi Police and Haryana STF on June 24. He had a Rs.3 lakh bounty and was wan...