The Jammu and Kashmir Crime Branch has arrested a serving Army personnel in connection with the August 21 shooting at a physiotherapy centre in Jammu’s Sainik Colony, which left a Mumbai woman dead and two others injured. The accused has been identified as Naik Sher Singh from the Army’s Movement Control Office (MCO), which manages travel reservations for serving and retired defence personnel. Official sources said Singh allegedly opened fire inside the centre, killing 30-year-old Mehajbeen Akil Sheikh of Mumbai’s Malad and injuring her sister Fatima Akil, 21, and Ludhiana resident Jaspreet Kour, 28. Inspector General of Police (Crime) Sujeet Kumar and SSP Benam Tosh confirmed that investigations are underway. Singh, a native of Hisar in Haryana, was posted at Jammu Tawi Railway Station. Sources said he fired eight rounds from his pistol, though it was unclear if the weapon was his official service firearm. Crime Branch officials said Singh reportedly wanted to marry a colleague who also worked at the physiotherapy centre but it didn’t materialise. On the day of the incident, he went to the centre on the day of the incident looking for her and, when he didn’t find her, allegedly opened fire in a fit of rage. The injured were initially taken to a private hospital by two people running the centre, who told doctors they had been hurt in a road accident in Bari Brahmana. Police were informed but told the women were unfit to give statements. Inquest proceedings were initiated on the basis of the men’s account. The victims were later shifted to different hospitals. On August 29, Mehajbeen succumbed to her injuries at the Government Medical College Hospital, Jammu. Her body was handed over to her family after an autopsy. Investigations later revealed the women had been shot and not injured in an accident. On September 18, an FIR was registered, and the inquest was converted into a case of murder and attempt to murder. Three policemen involved in the initial probe were suspended for alleged mishandling of the case, and a special investigation team (SIT) was set up. The probe was later handed over to the Crime Branch, which constituted another SIT to investigate both the shooting and the role of the suspended officials.
