History sheeter case: Police deny picking up suspect

The Chandigarh Police had registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy against four persons including Pawan and one Rajiv. A neighbour of Pawan told Newsline that Pawan had received a phone call on Monday night informing him that a team of police officers is coming to pick him up.

“I remember Pawan coming to my house and telling me to accompany him to the police station. When I enquired,Pawan told me that he had received a phone call saying that a murder has taken place and that the Police is coming to pick him up” said a neighbour,under condition of anonymity.

Minutes later a team of six police officers picked up Pawan. “When I asked the police officers about the reason,they told me that there was nothing serious and that Pawan was required for some inquiry” the neighbour added.

Such is the terror of Pawan and his gang,reportedly of nearly three dozen,that nobody in the colony was willing to talk about him. A 20-year-old painter by profession,under condition of anonymity,said “Pawan and his gang members have made this colony hell.”

He added,“We got to know that Rajesh had been murdered and in that connection the police had come to pick Pawan.” Throwing light on the past rivalry between Pawan and Rajesh,the 20-year-old told Newsline,“Pawan and his gang have had a clash with Rajesh and his gang members two months back. Both the parties had suffered injuries.”

Pawan’s elder brother Pradeep is undergoing sentence in Burail in a case of attempt to murder. According to residents of Rajiv Colony,Harish,a friend of Pawan,was also picked up the same night by the Chandigarh Police for interrogation.

When contacted,Rajesh Kumar Shukla,Station House officer (SHO),Manimajra Police Station,denied the claim. “We have not picked up anyone yet. We are still to figure out as to who killed Rajesh.”