SHO Dilawar Kumar Team Cracks Case, Nabs Accused within 24hours; Timely Action Prevents Weapon Falling into Wrong Hands
Arnia Police, under SHO Inspector Dilawar Kumar and overall supervision of SSP Jammu Joginder Singh, solved a gun theft case within 24 hours, arresting a suspended JKAP 8th Battalion Follower.
The accused, Rahul Chandail alias Salute Maar, allegedly stole a 12-bore double barrel gun from a residence in Malley-de-Kothey, Arnia.
Chandail, reportedly caught on CCTV, allegedly removed and discarded the camera’s chip while under the influence of intoxicants; the stolen firearm has been recovered.
The swift action, demonstrating Jammu Police’s zero tolerance for crime regardless of the perpetrator’s affiliation, has been widely praised by the public for preventing the weapon from potentially reaching anti-social or anti-national elements.
jj correspondent
Jammu, May 14, 2025: In a demonstration of swift and efficient policing, Jammu Police, particularly the team at Police Station Arnia led by Station House Officer (SHO) Inspector Dilawar Kumar and operating under the strategic command of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jammu, Joginder Singh (JKPS), cracked a sensitive gun theft case within a mere 24 hours. The operation resulted in the arrest of the accused, who surprisingly turned out to be a suspended Follower from the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP) 8th Battalion, and the successful recovery of the stolen 12-bore double barrel shotgun.
The incident came to light when Poonam Devi, wife of Naresh Kumar, resident of Malley-de-Kothey, Arnia, lodged a written complaint at Police Station Arnia. She reported that an unknown individual had stolen a licensed 12-bore double barrel gun from her house. Recognizing the gravity of a firearm theft, Police Station Arnia immediately registered a case under FIR No. 23/2025, invoking Sections 331(4)/305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation was promptly entrusted to Sub-Inspector Harjinder Pal Singh, under the direct supervision of SHO Arnia, Inspector Dilawar Kumar.
Leveraging a combination of human intelligence and technical surveillance, the Arnia Police team swiftly zeroed in on a suspect. Upon sustained questioning, the individual confessed to his involvement in the theft. The arrested accused was identified as Rahul Chandail, also known as “Salute Maar,” son of Ramesh Lal, a resident of Allah, Arnia.
Sources indicate that Chandail was captured on a CCTV camera installed at the victim’s house. However, upon allegedly realizing he had been recorded, he reportedly removed the memory chip from the CCTV system and discarded it. During questioning, he claimed to have no recollection of where he threw the chip, stating he was under the influence of liquor or drugs at the time of the incident.
Further investigation revealed that Rahul Chandail was a Follower in the JKAP 8th Battalion but was currently under suspension. His suspension reportedly followed an altercation with a superior officer, an incident that also allegedly occurred while he was under the influence of intoxicants. The commander of his battalion has been duly informed about his arrest in the theft case.
On the disclosure made by the accused Rahul Chandail, the police team successfully recovered the stolen double barrel 12-bore gun, preventing it from potentially falling into the hands of anti-social or anti-national elements. The swift recovery has been widely lauded by the local community, who praised the dedication of SHO Arnia Dilawar Kumar and the leadership of SSP Jammu Joginder Singh. This incident underscores Jammu Police’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against crime, irrespective of whether the perpetrator is a civilian or a member of the uniformed forces.
The successful resolution of the case was achieved under the diligent supervision of SHO Police Station Arnia and the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) R.S. Pura, with overall guidance from the Superintendent of Police (SP) Headquarters Jammu. Further investigation into the case is ongoing to ascertain all linked aspects. The prompt action by Arnia Police has not only brought a criminal to book but has also reinforced public faith in the law enforcement agency.
