The Biz Reporter
KATHUA, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir Police on Monday claimed to have solved a blind murder case within four days, arresting the accused and recovering the weapon allegedly used in the crime.
According to police, the breakthrough was achieved under the overall supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Mohita Sharma (IPS).
Police said that during the intervening night of May 15 and 16, Police Station Lakhanpur received information regarding the shooting death of a man in village Dhanna. The deceased was identified as Roop Singh, a resident of the village who worked as a contractor.
Following the incident, FIR No. 51/2026 was registered at Police Station Lakhanpur under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3/25 of the Arms Act.
Given the gravity of the offence, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by DSP DAR Bhagwan Das Dandiya and SHO Lakhanpur Neeraj Chaudhary was constituted to investigate the case. Police teams inspected the crime scene, collected technical and scientific evidence, and carried out extensive questioning in the area.
During the investigation, police developed suspicion against one Sardar Singh, son of Hari Singh, a resident of Tridwan in Kathua district, after it emerged that he had gone missing following the incident without informing his family.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had been working as a labourer for the deceased and allegedly had a payment dispute involving around ₹6,000. Police said the accused allegedly developed resentment over the issue and planned the murder.
Investigators said that on the night of the incident, the accused allegedly took his father’s 12-bore gun and went to the victim’s house, where he allegedly shot Roop Singh while he was sleeping near a window. He later fled the area after noticing heightened police activity.
Police launched an extensive manhunt involving multiple teams, conducting raids across several districts of Jammu and Kashmir while also coordinating with police in neighbouring states, including Himachal Pradesh.
The accused was eventually apprehended on the morning of May 19 from Sansarpur Terrace in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh after sustained search operations and technical surveillance, police said.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to his involvement in the crime and disclosed details about the sequence of events. Police also confirmed recovery of the weapon of offence based on his disclosure.
Police said the swift resolution of the case reflected the coordinated efforts and professionalism of the investigating teams. Further investigation is underway, and legal proceedings against the accused have been initiated.
