COP AMONG 4 HELD FOR LOOTING ₹6.5L FROM EXSMO IN NABHA

ON SEPT 3, TWO MEN BARGED INTO A HOUSE AND HELD THE DOCTOR AND HIS WIFE HOSTAGE BEFORE FLEEING WITH CASH

PATIALA: Six days after Nabha-based former senior medical officer was robbed of ₹6.5 lakh, the Patiala police have arrested four persons, including a Punjab Police constable for committing the crime.

Constable, Guriqbal Singh, 30, is posted on deputation at police headquarters in Chandigarh. Another accused Laddi Dass, 23, of Lubana Karmu village, is son-in-law of an assistant sub-inspector of police.

Guriqbal, who stayed in a rented accommodation near the victim’s residence, not only masterminded the crime, but also executed the plan, say police.

On September 3, two robbers barged into the residence of Dr Rajesh Goyal at Hira Mahal Colony in Nabha around 8:45pm and held the doctor and his wife hostage before looting the cash. The police recovered ₹6 lakh, two gold earrings, two vehicles and a sharpedged weapon used in the crime from the accused.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said: “After scanning CCTV footage and other technical evidences, police zeroed in on the accused.”

The other accused have been identified as Satgur Dass, 21, of Lubana Karmu village, and Ranjit Singh, alias Jeet, of Birarwal village in Nabha sub-division.

The SSP said Guriqbal met accused in an “akhara” and formed a gang for executing the plan. “Since Guriqbal lived near the doctor’s residence, he knew about his opulence. He reccied the doctor’s house on September 3,” the SSP said.

While Guriqbal and another accused entered the doctor’s house, two others stood guard outside his house, the SSP said, adding that Guriqbal was recruited as a constable in Sangrur in 2010. “He has been dismissed,” the SSP said.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to the crime. A case of robbery and house trespass was registered against the accused.