Grocer's Murder: Prime suspect held, SHO among six cops suspended

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 12

The police on Sunday arrested Charandeep Singh Babba, an AAP volunteer and son of an MC councillor in connection with murder of a grocery shop owner Gurpartap Singh Raja, here. Police Commissioner Arun Pal Singh also suspended Lovedeep Singh, Station House Officer, Division B police station, and five cops, who were on duty when the incident took place, for dereliction of duty.

Besides Babba, the police also booked his two brothers Rimpy and Happy, all residents of Azad Nagar area, Dharminder Singh Bhollu, a Nihang Sikh identified as Nona and three unidentified persons on charges of murder, attempt to murder and under the Arms Act following the statement of the victim’s wife Rajbir Kaur. The police also recovered the pistol used in the crime.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal confirmed that SHO Lovedeep Singh was suspended and shifted to the Police Lines. He said around five cops, who were present on the spot when the incident took place, were also placed under suspension. He said Babba was also arrested by the police from the spot and raids were on to nab the remaining accomplices.

Rajbir Kaur told the police that her husband Gurpartap Singh Raja had rented his shop situated in main bazaar in Azad Nagar to Gurnam Singh Pithi Wala. He was fitting iron grills for installing ice candy outside the shop when the accused reached the spot and objected to this.

A verbal argument followed which turned ugly when Rimpy handed over a pistol to Babba asking him to kill Raja for settling the issue permanently. Babba fired several gun shots. Raja suffered two bullet injuries one the head leading to his death. Raja’s friends Rishi Chaudhry and Jaspreet Singh were also injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, Babba was sent to three-day police custody. The family cremated Raja after an autopsy.

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