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All eyes are on SSP!
Pic: Mohtshim Khan
Doon Police crack Tibetan Market murder, killers arrested along with mother of victim
By Arun Pratap Singh
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 12 Feb: The Dehradun police today claimed to have unravelled the sensational broad daylight murder of gas agency owner Arjun Sharma near Tibetan Market yesterday. Sharing the details of the case, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh stated that the murder was carried out on a contract of Rs 12 lakhs allegedly arising out of a bitter property and financial dispute between the deceased and his mother along with her associates. Two principal assailants were arrested after separate late-night police encounters, while three others, including the victim’s mother, have been taken into custody for their alleged involvement in the conspiracy. The supari (contract) killers have been identified as Pankaj Rana and his brother Rajiv Rana. Those arrested later in the day included Beena Sharma, mother of the victim, Vinod Uniyal and Dr Ajay Khanna.
It may be recalled that the murder had occurred yesterday morning around 10:30 am near Tibetan Market in Dehradun. According to SSP Ajai Singh, who briefed the media on the case late tonight, Kotwali Dalanwala police received information that a man had been shot near Tibetan Market close to Parade Ground.
The police personnel immediately reached the spot and shifted the injured person to Doon Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The deceased was identified as Arjun Sharma, resident of Indira Nagar under Vasant Vihar police station limits and owner of Amar Deep Gas Agency situated on GMS Road. Senior officers inspected the crime scene and directed an intensive and time-bound investigation in view of the gravity of the incident. It may also be recalled that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had summoned a latenight meeting yesterday where he issued strict directions to the Police to resolve the case at the earliest and to tighten vigil to ensure law and order.
Singh added that on the basis of a complaint lodged by Abhilasha Sharma, wife of the deceased, a case was registered under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station Dalanwala. In her complaint, she alleged that her husband had an ongoing dispute with his mother Beena Sharma and her associates Vinod Uniyal, Sangeeta Uniyal and Dr Ajay Khanna of SK Memorial Hospital over property and financial transactions. She stated that Arjun Sharma had opposed certain monetary dealings of his mother, which led to serious discord between him and his mother, with litigation pending before the court. Abhilasha had expressed suspicion that her husband’s murder could have been orchestrated by the named persons.
Under the directions of SSP Ajai Singh, multiple police teams were formed and district-wide barricading and intensive checking operations were launched across urban and rural areas. CCTV footage from the crime scene and adjoining areas revealed that two men riding a scooter had carried out the shooting.
During a late-night checking operation yesterday, Raipur police attempted to stop a suspicious person coming from the jungle (forest) side beyond the CQA trijunction in Ladpur area. The suspect allegedly opened fire on the police team and tried to flee into the forest. In retaliatory firing undertaken in self-defence, he sustained a bullet injury in his leg and was apprehended. A .315 bore country-made pistol and an empty cartridge were recovered from him.
Along with this, in a separate action the same night, Doiwala police at the Laltappar outpost barrier signalled a scooter rider to stop. Instead, he attempted to turn back towards Dehradun and, when chased, entered the closed Birla factory premises, where he allegedly fired at the police team. Police returned fire in self-defence, injuring him in the leg before arresting him. A country-made pistol, one live cartridge and an empty cartridge were recovered, and the scooter used in the murder was seized. Both the injured accused were admitted to Coronation Hospital for treatment.
The arrested accused were later in the day identified as Pankaj Rana, aged 52 years, and his brother Rajiv alias Raju, aged 50 years, sons of Abhay Ram Singh and residents of 61/3 Indira Colony, Chukhuwala, Kotwali Dehradun, originally hailing from village Devikhal in Pauri Garhwal. During interrogation, both the brothers reportedly confessed to having shot Arjun Sharma near Parade Ground–Tibetan Market. Separate cases under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act have been registered against them at Raipur police station and Kotwali Doiwala for attacking the police teams.
Singh shared that the investigations revealed that Pankaj Rana was employed as a driver by Vinod Uniyal, while Rajiv operated an auto-rickshaw. According to the police findings, Vinod Uniyal, Dr Ajay Khanna and Beena Sharma were embroiled in a prolonged dispute with Arjun Sharma regarding property and financial dealings, with both sides having filed cases against each other in the past.
Dr Ajay Khanna had reportedly entered into a deal with Beena Sharma to purchase her property on GMS Road for Rs 14 crores, of which Rs 8 crores had already been paid. However, Arjun Sharma obtained a stay order from the court against the sale of the property, resulting in the matter remaining pending. Despite substantial payment, possession of the property could not be secured, and Dr Khanna was allegedly pressurising Beena Sharma for the return of his money. This issue frequently led to disputes between mother and son. Citing insecurity, Beena Sharma had earlier obtained protection from the High Court, and a woman constable was deployed for her security.
Police stated that due to the stay order obtained by Arjun Sharma and the financial strain arising from the stalled transaction, Beena Sharma, Dr Ajay Khanna and Vinod Uniyal allegedly conspired to eliminate him. A supari (contract) of Rs 12 lakhs was finalised with the Rana brothers, of which Rs 3 lakhs was paid in advance, with the remaining amount to be given after the execution of the crime. Lured by the promised payment, the accused allegedly studied Arjun Sharma’s routine and shot him dead yesterday near Tibetan Market.
During the investigation, it also emerged that before and after the murder, Pankaj Rana had been in contact with Vinod Uniyal through WhatsApp and had visited his residence on the night of the incident. Statements of witnesses revealed that a few days prior to the incident, Beena Sharma had sought information regarding her son’s daily routine from his manager Vijay. Owing to the strained relations, Arjun Sharma had been residing with his family in a rented house in Garhi Cantt.
On the basis of these findings, the police later in the day today, arrested three additional accused named in the FIR, namely Vinod Uniyal, Dr Ajay Khanna and Beena Sharma, who are being interrogated. The two main accused injured in the encounters were produced before the court and remanded to police custody.
SSP Ajai Singh stated that the murder was the result of a carefully planned conspiracy rooted in property and financial disputes and assured that all aspects of the case were being thoroughly examined. The Police have recovered two .315 bore country-made pistols, live and empty cartridges and the scooter used in the commission of the crime. The investigation remains underway, with further disclosures expected as interrogation and forensic analysis continue.
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