1 more held in Kataria murder case

Patiala, February 4

In another breakthrough within a week, the police arrested accused Sukhdeep Singh Ugga of Bangawali village in Sangrur, who was wanted in the Sameer Kataria murder case and another of car snatching in Ludhiana. He was arrested after an encounter with the cops. He sustained a bullet injury in the leg.

Earlier, the police had arrested four accused for the murder of Patiala resident Sameer Kataria.

Addressing the media, SSP Varun Sharma said Sukhdeep had perpetrated two major crimes within 24 hours in Ludhiana and Patiala. “During the chase today, a police party cornered the accused at Sanaur. He was asked to surrender but he opened fire on the police. In retaliatory fire by the cops of the CIA, Patiala, the accused was hit in the leg. Sukhdeep is a proclaimed offender,” said Varun Sharma. Sameer Kataria (37) was killed in a carjacking attempt on Passey Road last Sunday. The police said Kataria was on his way home with his friend Kishan when three motorcyclists attacked them.

Sources within the police department revealed that the accused had been on the prowl in the city for almost an hour to select a target randomly.

A police official said the accused started looking for an easy target and were waiting near Gurdawara Dukhniawaran Sahib. “They started following a car as they suspected that the two occupants were drunk. As the vehicle was moving at a slow pace, the accused attacked the driver and forcibly entered the vehicle. Co-passenger Kishan managed to escape,” said the police.

Further probe revealed that accused Abhishek stabbed Kataria in the neck and thigh. “Four accused Abhishek, Dinesh Kumar, Sahil Kumar and Yogesh Maurya, all school dropouts, were arrested earlier. The police had arrested Abhishek following an encounter a few days ago,” said CIA in charge Shaminder Singh.