CHANDIGARH: In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police has solved the murder case of Ashok Kumar, who was shot dead by unidentified persons in Dhariwal area of Gurdaspur district on February 10, 2020.
Disclosing this here today DGP Dinkar Gupta said that the accused were arrested on March 27 by a team from police station Shahpur Kandi, District Pathankot. They have been identified as Jagmeet Singh @ Meet s/o Narinder Singh r/o Pabbarali Kalan PS Dera Baba Nanak, Distt. Gurdaspur; Lovepreet Singh @ Love s/o Lakhbir Singh r/o Jhagian Khurd PS Fatehgarh Churian in Gurdaspur; and Rajinder Singh @ Nikku s/o Kashmir Singh r/o Gunnopur PS Bhaini Mian Khan of Gurdaspur district.
One 9 MM pistol along with two magazines and 21 live rounds, and one 30 bore pistol along with 18 live rounds were recovered from their possession, for which a separate case has been registered.
The DGP said the accused have been found to be also involved in snatching of an i20 car and a motorcycle from Kathunangal and Dasuya. Notably, accused Jagmeet Singh and Lovepreet Singh were also wanted in the murder case of ex-sarpanch Dalbir Singh, of village Dhilwan Distt. Batala, added DGP.
It may be recalled that Ashok Kumar died on the spot while Shiv Sena leader Honey Mahajan was critically injured in the attack by unidentified persons. A criminal case under sections 302, 307, 34 IPC, 25 Arms Act was registered at police station Dhariwal.
According to the DGP, the investigation so far has revealed that the contract for the attack was awarded by notorious gangster Sukhmeet Pal Singh @ Sukh Bhikhariwal s/o Sulakhan Singh r/o Bhikhariwal, PS Kalanaur in Gurdaspur district. Sukh Bhikhariwal wanted to control the liquor business in Dhariwal area and he apprehended that Honey Mahajan could obstruct his plans.
He, therefore, wanted to eliminate Honey Mahajan, while Ashok Kumar was an unintended victim who, at the time of attack, happened to be with Mahajan.
The DGP also disclosed that Sukh Bhikhariwal gave the contract to Mandeep Singh @ Deep and Harjinder Singh @ Jinda, who then asked Jagmeet Singh, Lovepreet Singh and Rajinder Singh @ Nikku to carry out the crime.
The investigation further revealed that on the day of the Dhariwal incident, the accused started from a rented accommodation in Gurdaspur, which had been arranged by Rajinder Singh @ Nikku. The white Swift car and the weapons were arranged by Harjinder Singh. Consequent upon reaching the place of incident, Lovepreet Singh and Jagmeet Singh fired shots at both Honey Mahajan and Ashok Kumar.