Sanjay Verma murder case: Punjab Police say arrested suspects killed in encounter in Abohar
A senior Punjab Police officer said no prior threat had been reported by the family before Sanjay Verma was shot dead outside his shop in Abohar.
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Sanjay Verma, popularly known as Punjab’s ‘Kurta Pajama King’, was shot dead by three men who were waiting outside his shop. (Source: File)Less than an hour after declaring the arrest of two men in connection with the murder of Abohar businessman Sanjay Verma, the Punjab Police said Tuesday the suspects were killed in an encounter outside the city where they were taken to recover weapons and clothes they had allegedly thrown after the crime.
Sanjay Verma, popularly known as Punjab’s ‘Kurta Pajama King’, was shot dead Monday morning by three men who were waiting outside his shop.
Earlier in the day, Arpit Shukla, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order), announced the arrest of Jaspreet Singh and Ram Rattan during a press conference in Abohar.
Later, Harmanbir Singh Gill, DIG Ferozepur Range, told reporters that five people were involved in the murder of Sanjay Verma. The three bike-borne shooters escaped in an already waiting Swift car being driven by Jaspreet and Ram Rattan.
“They are the ones who had helped the other three shooters to escape in a Swift car… During interrogation, they had told us the location where the clothes and weapons were thrown. When the police party took them to the location… the accomplices of Jaspreet and Ram Rattan were waiting at the spot, and they started firing at the police. When Jaspreet and Ram Rattan, too, started firing, the police fired in self-defence, and the suspects were killed, and one of our senior constables was injured. He has been admitted at the Civil Hospital, Abohar.”
Gill said a. 30 bore pistol and empty cartridges were recovered from the location.
“We have lodged a separate case with murder charges, and the Arms Act as well. An inquiry will be conducted into it,” he added.
While the three shooters are yet to be nabbed, Gill said that the case will be solved soon.
During the press conference earlier in the day, Shukla, Special Director General of Police (Law and Order), said, “Multiple wings and teams of the Punjab Police are working in coordination to trace the culprits, and the probe is moving in the right direction,” he said.
Shukla added that no prior threat had been reported by the family before Sanjay Verma was shot dead by three men outside his shop. He said the Punjab Police are using both technical and human intelligence to expedite the investigation, and assured that all remaining accused will also be arrested shortly. “The details of the case will be revealed shortly once we complete the investigation.”
Shukla emphasised that the Punjab Police are a professional force committed to delivering justice in this case.
“The Punjab Police are an able force. We are the same force that fought terrorism in this state. Today, we are waging a war against drugs while also tackling complex law and order challenges,” he said.
“So far, we have arrested 90 gangsters in Punjab and neutralised seven. The real problem is that many gangsters are operating from outside the country, using local foot soldiers to carry out crimes. We are taking all necessary preventive measures to curb this.”
Responding to allegations by Sanjay Verma’s brother Jagat Verma about gangsters orchestrating murders from inside jails, Shukla said, “Prisons are a separate department, but we are fully aware of the issue. Punjab is a border state with unique challenges. Despite this, we have solved all major murder cases and even hand grenade attack cases in the past.”
The police have also lodged an FIR against a man named Shakti from Azimgarh village, but he has yet to be arrested.
Gill, DIG Ferozepur Range, Gurmeet Singh Chauhan, DIG anti-gangster task force, and Gurmeet Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Fazilka, were also present during the press conference.
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