One more accused in former MLA shooting case arrested from Sonepat

One more shooter involved in firing gunshots at Congress former MLA Bumber Thakur during Holi celebrations at his residence in Bilaspur was arrested from Sonepat (Haryana), the police said here today.

The accused has been identified as Bobby, a resident of Dubaldhan in Beri tehsil of Jhajjar. A special investigation team (SIT) formed to investigate the case arrested him from Kharkhora in Sonepat. The accused was absconding since the shooting incident that took place in Bilaspur on March 14.

SP, Bilaspur, Sandeep Dhawal, who is a member of the SIT, said the accused was presented in a court, which remanded him in judicial custody till April 11. He added that eight accused, including three shooters, were involved in the incident. “One shooter involved in the incident is still absconding and will be arrested soon,” he claimed.

On March 14, former Bilaspur MLA Bumber Thakur was shot at by unknown assailants at his residence in Bilaspur. He had sustained a bullet injury on his thigh. His personal security officer (PSO) Sanjeev Kumar was also injured in the incident. While Bumber Thakur was taken to the Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) and Hospital, his PSO was treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Bilaspur.

Bumber Thakur had said that his life was in danger and blamed the drug mafia for orchestrating the shooting incident as he had raised his voice against the rising drug menace. He had also accused incumbent Bilaspur MLA Trilok Jamwal of patronising the ‘chitta’ mafia as well as having proximity with the shooters. However, Jamwal had accused Bumber Thakur of starting a gang war in Bilaspur.

Later, an SIT headed by DIG, Central Range, Soumya Sambasivan was constituted to investigate the case.