2 shooters held for killing RSS leader’s son; motive still unclear

The police have reportedly apprehended two shooters involved in the killing of RSS leader Baldev Raj Arora’s son, Naveen Arora. Sources said a few other persons were also being interrogated on suspicion.

SSP Bhupinder Singh constituted nine special teams to nab the assailants, who shot the youth at point-blank range while he was walking home after closing his shop. Police officials scanned CCTV cameras across the stretch between his shop and residence and technical surveillance was also put in place to crack the case.

Sources said the assailants had conducted reconnaissance of the area before executing the planned killing on Saturday. They said the two persons who have been detained were reportedly contract killers. However, the motive behind the killing was yet to be established -- whether it stemmed from personal enmity or was an ideological act, as alleged by BJP leaders.

Family sources said the deceased ran a cloth shop in the city market and had no enmity or financial dispute with anyone. Though his grandfather, Dina Nath, was a prominent RSS leader, Naveen himself was not very active in politics or Sangh affairs.

Earlier, a letter purportedly issued by the “Sher-e-Punjab” brigade claiming responsibility for the killing went viral on social media. In it, a self-proclaimed commander, Paramjit Singh, alleged that the Arora family had “celebrated” after Operation Blue Star in 1984 and had “rejoiced” at the deaths of Sikhs and claimed the attack was an act of revenge.

Police sources did not confirm the authenticity of the letter and said it might be an attempt to divert the investigation.