Panchkula youth held for killing cousin in Shimla

The main accused in the murder case of a Chandigarh youth, who was killed in a hotel in Shimla, has been arrested from Panchkula, police said here today.

According to the police, Arjun Sharma, a resident of Sector 10, Panchkula (Haryana), had fled Shimla after killing his cousin Akash Sharma, who was staying with him in a hotel.

The Shimla Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Rattan Negi, said, "On the basis of technical surveillance, human intelligence and coordinated efforts by multiple teams, the accused was traced and arrested from the outskirts of Panchkula in the early hours of Saturday."

"The arrest was made possible due to the swift and coordinated action by the Shimla Police, with the support of local police," he added.

The ASP said a case under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered against the accused and further investigation is underway.

On June 11, the accused, along with the deceased, reached Shimla and checked into a hotel near Dhalli Tunnel. On June 13, both of them had an altercation, following which Arjun allegedly murdered Akash by slitting his throat and striking his head with a beer bottle. Akash died on the spot, while Arjun fled the hotel.

After receiving information from the hotel staff, police immediately reached the spot, along with a forensic team and collected crucial evidence. Later, a manhunt was launched by the police to nab the accused, who was apprehended from the outskirts of Panchkula.