Ludhiana ambush, murder: Cops on trail of victim’s kin

Ludhiana: After the local police, in collaboration with counterparts in Jammu, arrested one of the killers of Kuldeep Singh, they said that a distant relative of the victim had plotted the murder. According to them, this distant relative hired the arrested accused and three of his accomplices for the crime. The victim, Kuldeep Singh, was personal assistant to former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Jagdev Singh Talwandi. Sadar police have nominated a relative of Kuldeep Singh, Inderpal Singh of Doraha, in the case but they are yet to confirm if Inderpal was the sole mastermind of the murder. Kuldeep Singh was bludgeoned to death on June 27 at Missing Link-2 near Dhandra Road, when he was on his way home from his farmhouse near Gill Bypass. The assailants, who came in a car, first hit Kuldeep Singh's car, forcing him to stop. When he stepped out to check the damage, the assailants attacked him with sharp-edged weapons, killing him on the spot. A woman who lives nearby captured the incident in a video. The investigationIn the course of the probe, police managed to obtain the registration number plate of the car, a Maruti Swift, used by the assailants. Perusal of records led the police to the car owner, who runs a taxi business. As police reached the taxi driver whose car was used by the murderers, Doraha resident Inderpal Singh's name came to the fore. The taxi service owner said that Inderpal, a relative of Kuldeep Singh, called him, asking for the car. On the basis of his disclosure, police nominated Inderpal Singh in the FIR. Further investigation revealed that Inderpal and Kuldeep had a property dispute, which could be the motive behind Kuldeep's murder.Additional deputy commissioner of police-II Karanveer Singh said, "In a joint operation with Jammu police, city police have arrested Gurcharan Singh, a resident of the Sadar area, in the murder case of Kuldeep Singh. Gurcharan is one of the four killers who were hired by the main accused. During questioning, Gurcharan said that he did not know the main conspirator directly as one his accomplices maintained contact with him." Police also found that the main conspirator had arranged accommodation for the killers to hide from the police in Jammu, the ADCP said. On being asked if Inderpal Singh was the conspirator, ADCP Singh said, "A distant relative of the victim is the conspirator. However, police need to do some more investigation to ascertain if Inderpal is that one. Police teams are trying to track the absconding accused."Even during the initial probe, police suspected the involvement of an acquaintance who knew that Kuldeep Singh owned a licenced pistol, which he kept in the car with him. Police reached this conclusion on the grounds that the accused conspired to make Kuldeep exit the car, for which they rammed into his car from behind. The elderly man had been living abroad with his wife and children. He came to India some time ago for some pending work related to a property case. How the investigation proceededKey arrest: Gurcharan Singh, one of four hired killers, arrested in a joint operation with Jammu PolicePrime suspect: Inderpal Singh, a distant relative of the victim, nominated in FIRMotive: Suspected property dispute between Kuldeep and InderpalCrucial lead: Police traced the Maruti Swift used in the crime to a taxi serviceTaxi link: Taxi owner revealed Inderpal Singh had booked the carHideout: Mastermind arranged shelter for killers in JammuWhat's next?Police are verifying if Inderpal is the sole mastermindInvestigators believe the killers knew Kuldeep carried a licensed pistol, suggesting insider knowledgeOver 30 individuals questioned, CCTV footage being reviewedMSID:: 122441580 413 |