Excise officer murder: Cops quiz trader

The excise officer was shot dead by some unidentified miscreants in Varanasi on Sunday night. The police,however,is yet to make any arrest in the case.

The Varanasi Deputy Inspector General,P C Meena,said: “The investigation indicates that professional enmity could be the reason behind the murder. Currently,we are trying to trace the conspirators and the shooters.”

“The police have recovered Rs 1 lakh in cash from Singh’s cupboard while searching his cabin in the office,” Vijay Bhushan,Varanasi SP (City),who is heading the investigation.

“The family members of the officer and his subordinate staff feigned ignorance about the money. The colleagues informed that Singh hardly sought for any assistance from the staff members in his work,” said Bhushan.

According to Bhushan,Singh had seized consignments of various gutkha dealers and some other businessmen in Varanasi a few months ago. But he was yet to slap compounding on any of the seizures. The staff told the police that Singh used to meet the concerned clients personally and decided over the action on his own.

In the course of the investigation,Bhushan said,they have also found details about some prime lands purchased by Singh in Varanasi in the last few years. The lands have been purchased in different names. He was planning to venture into the real estate business after his retirement,which was due next year.

The police have identified the prime suspects and are now looking for the hired killers,he added.