Siblings’ murder: Main accused found dead

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, December 28

Jagdeep Malik, accused of killing his cousin’s three children, was found dead in the Kurukshetra district prison this evening.

Confirming the incident, SP Abhishek Garg said further details were awaited from the jail authorities. Sources said Malik’s body was found hanging in the bathroom. Officials said prima facie, it appeared to be a case of suicide.

A resident of Sarsa village, near here, Jagdeep was the main accused in the gruesome murder of three siblings — Sameer (11), Simran (8) and Samar (4).

The bullet-ridden bodies were found in the Morni forest range on November 21, two days after the children went missing under suspicious circumstances from Sarsa. During investigation, Malik was also charged with killing his younger brother a few years ago. The murder of the three siblings was being investigated by a SIT headed by Karnal range IGP Subhash Yadav. Sonu Malik, father of the deceased children, had also been lodged in jail for his suspected role in the triple murder.

The children had bullet injuries at the back of their head. Jagdeep had told the police that he first killed Sameer and Simran and dumped their bodies in the forest area.

Samar was killed at a distance of around 1.5 km towards Sher Gurjra village on the Morni-Raipur Rani road, he had said.

Children’s grandfather Jeeta Ram Malik had said his son had extra-marital relations with a Shimla-based woman. A fight had taken place over the issue around six months ago and family members intervened to settle the matter, he had said.

Sonu was planning to marry the woman and saw his children as a hurdle in his marriage, Jeeta had said. Sonu conspired with Jagdeep, who killed the children, Jeeta had said.