2 shooters held in J&K for Makhu shopkeeper’s murder

Chandigarh: Two Rajasthan-based shooters allegedly involved in the June 1 murder of a shopkeeper in Makhu town of Ferozepur district were arrested from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Sunday.Police identified the accused as Vishnu Kumar of Rupbas, Bharatpur, and Rahul Mahawar of Anantpura, Kota. A joint team of the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Punjab, Ferozepur Police and Jammu and Kashmir Police intercepted the duo on the Patnitop-Kud road near Kud police station in J&K. One .30-bore Beretta pistol and 10 live cartridges were recovered from their possession, police said. The two had allegedly fired three rounds from a pistol at Gurcharan Singh Gaba, owner of Gaba General Store, in Makhu's main market, killing him. DGP Yadav said preliminary investigation revealed that Vishnu has a criminal background involving extortion, robbery, dacoity, theft and Arms Act violations, and carried a Rs 10,000 reward declared by Rajasthan Police. AGTF ADGP Promod Ban said a special operation codenamed "Hill Trap" was launched under DSP Rajan Parminder Singh's supervision following the murder. Extensive raids in Rajasthan and intelligence inputs eventually traced the accused to J&K, leading to their arrest. Ferozepur SSP Bhupinder Singh Sidhu said police are now working to uncover the larger conspiracy, including those who planned, financed or facilitated the attack. MSID:: 131566680 413 |