Two juveniles among 3 held in salon firing case

The Islamabad police have arrested three persons, including two juveniles, for allegedly opening fire outside a beauty salon-cum-academy near Khalsa College here recently.

The miscreants — Manshu Behal (18), a resident of Bharariwal area, and the two juveniles — had allegedly opened fire outside the salon on August 26. The suspects had fled to Roorkee in Uttarakhand, from where they were arrested.

The police have recovered a China-made ‘glock’ pistol along with six live cartridges and a motorcycle from the possession of the accused. A preliminary probe revealed that they had been instructed to open fire outside the salon by their ‘foreign-based handlers’, who reportedly provided them the pistol and the motorcycle used in the crime.

Further investigation was underway, and more arrests were likely, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alam Vijay Singh.

Vishaljit Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, said, around two months ago, Behal came in contact with one Arshdeep Singh Banga of Banga through Telegram, an instant messaging mobile phone application, with the latter convincing the accused to open fire outside House of Beauty Parlour and Worldwide Immigration, located opposite Khalsa College here.

He said one Mohabbat Randhawa, said to be based abroad, then called and asked Behal to meet an acquaintance, who handed him Rs 20,000 in cash and a bike without a number plate.

Later, he was provided a pistol at the Kathunangal area. Behal told the police that due to the poor economic condition of his family, he agreed to commit the crime.

He said he and two of his friends then opened fired near the salon and fled. They dumped the bike in some bushes near Bohru village and went to Roorkee via train.

The ADCP said, after the incident, Behal received a call from the ‘handlers’ that he had opened fire at the wrong shop.