Drug licence gone, killer held grudge

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 17

Three months after taking over the probe into the sensational murder of a Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) official, the Bureau of Investigation (BoI) of the Punjab Police has not found any other motive than personal enmity of the accused with the victim.

The report submitted by BoI Director Prabodh Kumar to the Chief Minister, the DGP office and the FDA says the lady officer, Neha Shoree, worked with honesty, dedication and without any prejudice but Balwinder Singh, the accused, held her responsible for cancellation of his drug sale licence and eventually being a failure in life.

The one-page bureau report says the investigation was still on, in case any new lead developed.

Neha Shoree, a young officer was shot dead in her office at Kharar on March 29 this year. The accused, Balwinder Singh (50), killed himself a few minutes later when the FDA staff tried to overpower him. Balwinder carried a .32 bore pistol and a knife to Neha’s office.

In their investigation, the Mohali police had concluded that Balwinder held the victim officer responsible for cancellation of his drug licence in 2009 and nursed a grudge against her.

Neha’s parents had alleged that she was killed at the behest of drug mafia.

The Punjab Police formed two different special investigation teams to probe the murder from all angles. However, when the victim’s family approached Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh alleging a high-level probe was required, the CM asked the BoI to investigate.

The BoI probe report said she worked within the framework of rules and law of the land and in this due process, she had cancelled the chemist and druggist licence given to Balwinder by the FDA in 2009. The licence was cancelled after prohibited tablets were found at his shop.

The report said Balwinder tried different businesses but could not succeed and kept suffering financial losses. He blamed Neha for his downfall and insisted many times for the revocation of cancellation of his licence. The report said Neha rejected his application as per the laid down rules and procedure due to which Balwinder nursed a grudge and shot her dead.

The report does not mention any role of drug mafia into the case as per the investigations held so far.

Official sources said the report meant the BoI would investigate further only if some reliable lead into the case other than the angle of personal enmity was found.

Drug officer’s murder

Neha Shoree, a young officer was shot dead in her office at Kharar on March 29 this year. The accused, Balwinder Singh (50), killed himself a few minutes later when the FDA staff tried to overpower him.