Blind murder case of petrol pump worker solved, two held

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 28

With the arrest of two persons, the Amritsar rural police today claimed to have solved the blind murder case in which a petrol pump employee, Anil Pal, was shot dead at Shamnagar village in Majitha on February 23.

Those arrested were identified as Jashanpreet Singh of Sohian Khurd village and Navpreet Singh of Majhwind Gopalpur village in the Kathunangal area. Their third accomplice and prime accused in the case, Manraj Singh, alias Manna, of Muradpura village in Gurdaspur was still missing.

J Elanchezian, SSP, Amritsar rural police, said that Jashanpreet and Manraj had come into contact in Canada where they had gone on student visas. However, they returned a few months back. They were drug addicts and needed money for procuring drugs. They planned to loot a petrol pump and involved Navpreet Singh in it.

On February 23, they got filled petrol worth Rs 100 in their bike. However, when Anil demanded money, they tried to snatch his bag. Anil resisted their attempt and did not let the bag containing money snatched. On this, Manraj took out a country-made pistol and fired in air. Still Anil resisted them. Manraj shot him in his head which led to his death there and then. They later fled the scene with the cash.

Jashan was nabbed by the police on Friday while Navpreet was arrested today. The SSP said raids were being conducted to arrest Manraj who has been missing till now. He said the accused were produced in court and brought on two-day police remand for further interrogation.