Property dealer's murder: 3 cops suspended in Karnal

KARNAL: Three policemen, including a station house officer, have been suspended for dereliction of duty after the murder of a young property dealer in Karnal on Wednesday. On Friday, Karnal sadar SHO Narinder Singh, head constable Balraj Singh and constable Sunil Kumar were removed from their posts following the uproar over the killing of 25-year-old Neeraj Kumar in Vikas Colony area of the town.
Significantly, the young man was provided with two security guards. One of them was even present at the spot when Neeraj was shot dead. Inspector general of police, Karnal range, Hanif Qureshi said, "The department has announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh for any information leading to arrest of the suspects in the case, including the main accused identified as Neeraj Poonia on the basis of eyewitness account," he said.
IG Qureshi said there had no breakthrough in the murder as the main suspect Poonia had not been arrested as yet. "However, police are working on various theories to crack the case. Eight teams have been constituted to solve the case," he said.
Meanwhile, kin of the deceased continued to protest at the Kalpana Chawla Medical College and Hospital demanding the arrest of Neeraj's killers. The young man was shot dead by some persons at his shop on December 17 evening, following which his family refused to get the autopsy done.
Neeraj had suffered three injuries on head and chest from gunshots fired from close range. The criminals managed to flee from the spot without any resistance. An eyewitness said two youths came on motorcycle and opened fire at Neeraj as they entered his shop. Neeraj, whose brother Amit had also been murdered in January 2013 following some personal animosity, had been provided with two security guards one of whom was present at the time he was attacked.