Gopal Nagar murder case solved, 2 nabbed

Amritsar, March 1

With the arrest of two persons, including a woman, the city police on Friday claimed to have cracked the blind murder case of elderly man Vijay Khanna (78) in Gopal Nagar locality on the Majitha road within 12 hours of the incident.

Police investigations revealed that robbery was the main cause behind the murder, said Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar here today. The police recovered the stolen cash and the knife and the cutter used in the crime.

Those arrested were identified as Vishal Bhangu (28), a resident of Arora Market, Nagina Avenue, and Monika (33) of Khandewala Chowk, 88 Foot Road here.

The victim’s sister, Neelam Khanna, a lawyer and resident of Rani Ka Bagh area, told the police that Vijay used to live alone as his children were settled in Canada, Chandigarh and Gurgaon. He usually visited them and returned home. She said on Thursday at around 7.30am, she got a call from his son Vaneet Khanna that a neighbour called him to inform that Vijay was injured and asked to come quickly. She said she reached there and found that he was stabbed to death in a room. His mouth, hands and legs were tied.

The Police Commissioner said following the technical analysis of CCTV cameras and human intelligence, the police identified the killers. He said the probe revealed that Monika was an acquaintance of the victim and used to often visit his house. She along with her friend Vishal Bhangu decided to rob him. However, when they entered the house, the victim started shouting and duo tied his mouth, hands and feet with a tape and later stabbed him to death. `