Gruesome murders: Culprits still out of police reach

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 31

While the city police boast of its high-end technology and efficiency, many sensational murder cases in the past decade remain unsolved.

The police grappled to make headway in the murder case of a college girl in Sector 38 (West), while the gruesome murder of a UT police Inspector in Dadu Majra and of a woman in SBI Colony, Sector 42, remain unsolved.

8 years on, no trace of Neha’s killers

Eight years on, the murder case of Neha Ahlawat (22), a resident of Sector 38 (West), remains unsolved. She was found murdered near her house on July 30, 2010.

Neha’s body was found in a semi-naked condition from near a taxi stand in Sector 38 (West). She had gone to attend her coaching class in Sector 15 and was returning home when the incident took place.

Her post-mortem report indicated injuries on her private parts but could not confirm rape. However, in 2013, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report confirmed that Neha was raped before she was murdered.

The Sector 39 police questioned many people but failed to crack the case. Later, the case was transferred to the crime branch that grilled more than 150 suspects, including drug addicts, snatchers and her five close friends. Neha’s friends also went through the brain-mapping test. However, they were given a clean chit. The CFSL team had failed to collect blood samples and other evidence from the crime scene. The DNA of the semen that was found on the victim’s clothes was preserved. The police had also sent the fingerprints found on Neha’s mobile phone to the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB).

Timeline

July 30, 2010 : Neha’s semi-naked body found in bushes at Sector 38 (West)

August, 2010: Police recover her mobile phone from a shopkeeper in Sector 15

December 2010: UT police announce a reward of Rs one lakh for providing information in the case

November 2013: Cops add rape charges in the case on the basis of the CFSL report

Inspector’s death remains a mystery

Almost 10 years ago, on August 2, 2008, UT police Inspector Kashmir Singh was found murdered in Dadu Majra. His death still remains a mystery.

Singh was bludgeoned to death and the incident came to light after the body was found lying in a pool of blood in a street.

The victim’s face was smashed with concrete slabs and the body bore stab wounds. There were deep cuts on the victim’s head. A bloodstained stone, used by the assailants, was lying near the body.

The police suspected that there were more than two killers. The police had claimed that an auto driver, identified as Balwinder Singh, alias Balla, was the prime suspect. The body was found near Balla’s house, who went missing after which he was declared a proclaimed offender (PO).

A detailed charge sheet against Balla was filed in the court in 2009. A case was registered at the Sector 39 police station. Later, it was transferred to the crime branch. The cops even failed to ascertain the motive behind the crime.

Timeline

August 2, 2008: Inspector Kashmir Singh found dead at Dadu Majra.

October 30, 2009: A detailed charge sheet filed against prime accused Balwinder Singh, alias Balla.

Woman’s murder: Accused unknown

Santosh Kumari, 50, a resident of Sector 42, was subjected to extreme brutality by an unknown assailant, leading to her death. The body was found tied and her head wrapped in a cloth with a wire inserted in her mouth. Victim was alone at home at the time of the incident.

The city police could not establish the motive behind the murder. An SIT was constituted that questioned various people. The police have already filed an untraced report in the court after they failed to crack the murder case.

Sarpanch’s killers at large  

Satnam Singh, sarpanch of Khurda village in Garhdiwala, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in Sector 38, here, on April 9, 2017. 

Before death, Satnam had named Manjit Singh, alias Bobby; Tirath Singh and Arshdeep Singh in the case.

Later, through a video, made by a woman on her mobile phone, the assailants were identified as Dilpreet Singh Baba; Harjinder Singh, alias Akash; and Harvinder Singh, alias Rinda. 

The police didn’t find any evidence against Tirath and Arshdeep following which a discharged application was moved  in the case. 

Manjit Singh, alias Bobby, surrendered before the police in Punjab after which he was arrested and brought on production warrant. The remaining three accused are still remain at large 

Timeline 

April 9, 2017: Satnam Singh, sarpanch of Khurda village in Garhdiwala, murdered

January 2018: Manjit Singh, alias Bobby, prime accused, surrendered 

April 2018: Police file discharge plea against two persons