AAP leader’s wife, mother held for ‘conspiracy’ in murder

Hundreds of people continued an indefinite dharna at the Abohar-Sriganganagar stretch on National Highway 62 for the second day near Kallar Khera village as chief suspect Manoj Kumar Mahar, who allegedly shot village sarpanch Poonam’s husband Shankar Jalap dead on Thursday, was still on the run.

Vehicles carrying consignment, including fruits and vegetables, from different states remained stranded. Buses were also diverted to alternate routes.

A case has been registered under Sections 103, 351(3) 61(2) of the BNS and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, Khuian Sarwar police said after a complaint filed by Mohinder Pal, a cousin of the deceased.

Police have arrested Manoj Kumar’s wife Sneha and mother Saroj Rani. His father Rai Bahadur and others including Rajinder Kumar, Mohan Lal and Narinder Kumar were also named in the FIR. Manoj is said to be the block president of Aam Aadmi Party. Sarpanch Poonam is also an AAP worker.

Mohinder said that when a demarcation of land to construct a drain was being carried out in the village, Sneha, Saroj and Manoj were making a video of the same at the roof of their house. Suddenly, Manoj, allegedly on provocation by his wife and mother, came down, took out a pistol and shot at Shankar Jalap and fled. Jalap was taken to Sriganganagar by his family where he succumbed to his injuries. His body was brought to Abohar Civil Hospital and kept in mortuary.

Mohinder further said that Manoj had a grudge with Shankar claiming that the latter, instead of Manoj, supported Sunil Kumar of the same village in becoming Nambardar. A conspiracy was allegedly hatched by Manoj’s family against Shankar that resulted in his murder.

The protesting family and relatives turned down appeals made by the police officials to allow a post-mortem of the deceased and end the blockade at the highway. They insisted police should first trace and arrest Manoj. The deadlock continued till evening.