JJ CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Nov 10: A suspended policeman and his former colleague, who were wanted in connection with last week’s shooting incident in the outskirts of Jammu, were arrested from Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, a police officer said.
Three people, including a history-sheeter and his brother, were killed and another critically injured in a shooting incident following a brawl over some issue in Salehar village of Arnia in R.S Pura on Friday.
Jammu Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Chandan Kohli had constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident and bring the culprits to book.
After initial investigation, constable Bhopinder Singh emerged as the main accused who had fired indiscriminately from his rifle on the four people. He was accompanied by his former colleague constable Sadeeq.
“Both the accused were arrested by the SIT from Kathua district,” the officer said, without divulging further details.
The accused were on the run since the shooting and on November 8, police detained the wife of Sadeeq for questioning and also recovered the service rifle of the suspended cop from a field.
Babar Chowdhary, a history-sheeter, his brother Sabar Chowdhary and Arif Chowdhary were killed, and their associate Parveen Kumar was critically injured in the incident.
While Sabar and Arif died on the spot, Babar succumbed to injuries when he was being shifted to a hospital in Punjab for specialised treatment on Sunday.
On this, an instant case FIR no. 77/2021 U/S 302/307IPC, 3/25, 4/25 Arms Act got registered in Police station Arnia and investigation started.
For speedy and time bound investigation Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted headed by SP Hqrs. Jammu, Ramnish Gupta.
On 8th November an information was received that wife of one of the accused Sadeeq Choudhary namely Jaana Bibi had kept the weapon in a hideout, she was questioned thoroughly after which she confessed the crime and led the Police party to the hideout and finally the weapon was recovered from there after all legal formalities.
SSP Jammu further said that “Today morning a reliable information was received by Special Investigation Team and 3 teams were constituted under SDPO RS Pura Shabir Khan comprising of Harjeet Singh SHO Arnia, Jaipaul Sharma SHO RS Pura and Sultan Mirza SHO Miran Sahib, which finally zeroed in on accused in the outskirts of Kathua and finally arrested them along with one of their accomplice with the support of Kathua Police. This has been done under supervision of SP Hqrs Ramnish Gupta.”
The details of the arrested person are:- 01.Sadeeq Chowdhary S/O Naseeb Ali R/O Arnia. 02 Bhupinder Singh S/O Amreek Singh R/O RS Pura both main accused in the case where as Gulab din @ Ghaia S/O Mareed Ali R/O Sarore, Samba who harbouring the accused was also arrested.
One revolver along with 10 cartridges was also recovered from one of the accused Bhupinder Singh.
Four vehicles used in Crime stand recovered, viz Tata Harrier no. JK 02 CQ 7308, Mahindra Thar JK 21 G 9888, Mahindra Scorpio JK 02 BM 3333, Chevrolet Beat JK 02 BA 8375.
On further questioning of the accused Police raided the house of the accused Bhupinder Singh and recovered three 12 bore guns, some sharp edged weapons, 10 gms heroine and 2 Lacs Indian currency.
Subsequently FIR Nos 214/2021 US 3/25, 4/25 Arms Act and FIR No 215/2021 US 8/21, 22, 27(a) NDPS Act was lodged at Police station RS Pura and FIR No 79/2021 US 8/21/22 NDPS Act at Police station Arnia.
It is pertinent to mention that one of the accused namely Sadeeq Choudhary was working in Police department and was dismissed from service and dis-engaged in year 2019.
Moreover Gulab din @ ghaisa who has harboured the accused persons is a notorious criminal and several complaints and FIRs was registered against him in PS Bari Brahmana and other Police stations. Further investigation of the case is going on.
