Nabha trader’s killer arrested, wanted to settle score: police
PATIALA/NABHA :Four days after a 42-year-old fertiliser dealer, Monik Jindal, was shot dead from point-blank range at his shop in New Grain Market in Nabha last week (October 26), police have arrested the main accused, Sukhwinder Singh, a resident of Ghanurk village, 7km from Nabha. Sukhwinder owes Rs 38 lakh to Monik’s family that is into the money-lending business.
Police claim that Sukhwinder had hired a contract killer, Bittu Singh of his village, for Rs 3 lakh and the actual target of the conspiracy was Monik’s brother, Sonu Jindal.
Sukhwinder and Sonu had entered into a scuffle over the loan and the murder was planned to settle scores and to avoid paying the loan.
“Sukhwinder hatched the whole conspiracy and he and the contract killer conducted a recce on October 24 so that the killer, Bittu, could identify Sonu and his car, a Maruti Alto car,” deputy inspector general of police (DIG) Sukhchain Singh Gill told reporters. Bittu is now absconding.
MISTAKEN IDENTITY
However, on the day of the murder, Monik was using Sonu’s car and had stayed at the shop till late evening. “Bittu entered the shop, Pal Khaad Store, about 8.30pm and fired a shot at Monik’s forehead with Sukhwinder’s licenced revolver. Sukhwinder waited for him on the main road on his motorcycle,” the DIG said.
The police have recovered a .32 revolver and the motorcycle used in the crime from Sukhwinder’s possession. The DIG said the special investigation team formed to investigate the case, scanned phones call details of Monik to gather clues.
“It was found that Sukhwinder had contacted Monik about 11am on the day of the murder. The last dialled call on Monik’s mobile phone was also to Sukhwinder. This made us suspicious and we zeroed-in Sukhwinder, who has confessed to the crime,” the DIG said.
The DIG added that Sukhwinder, who owns 8 acres, has confessed that he was unable to repay the loan to the Jindal family, following which he conspired to commit the crime.
“Sukhwinder also went to Gujarat to hire contract killers but failed to do so, following which Bittu was hired,” the police said. Bittu has a criminal background and faces at least four cases — including two of robbery and liquor smuggling — and escaped from the custody of the Delhi Police a few years ago. Sukhwinder has been booked under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and other charges.