Police claim to crack Malerkotla AAP councillor's murder with arrest of three

Parvesh Sharma

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Malerkotla, August 1

Malerkotla police claimed to have cracked the murder case of AAP councillor Mohammad Akbar, who was shot dead on Sunday in a gym near Ludhiana bypass.

Police have identified five accused and arrested three and are conducting raids to arrest the remaining two.

IG, Patiala zone, Mukhwinder Singh Chhina and Malerkotla SSP Aveneet Kaur Sidhu said deceased Akbar had rented his shop to Wasim Iqbal around 14 years back in Grewal Chowk, where Iqbal had been running an auto sale and purchase business.

Iqbal had invested around Rs 2.5 crores of Akbar in his business since 2015.

From last around one week, Akbar had been demanding his money back from Iqbal.

“But instead of returning the money, Iqbal along with his relative Mohammad Aasif hatched a conspiracy to murder Akbar. Three days back, accused Iqbal along with his two friends, including Mohammad Sadav and Tehseem, both from Saharanpur in Uttar Pardesh, who have been dealing with him auto sale purchase, went to Bagra village near Shamli and purchased one countrymade pistol along with five live cartridges in Rs 9000,” IG Chhina said.

In the wee hours of July 31, accused Iqbal gave pistol and live cartridges to his relative Aasif, who along with his friend Mohammad Murshad, murdered Akbar in the gym and fled.

“We have arrested Iqbal, Mohammad Sadav and Tehseem while raids are on to arrest the remaining two accused — Mohammad Aasif and Mohammad Murshad,” said the SSP.

On Sunday, police had registered a case under Sections 302, 34 of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 59 of Arms Act at Malerkotla-1 police station.

Two-and-half-years back Akbar’s brother Mohammad Anwar was also shot dead by assailants and police had arrested the accused.