Police continue hunt for main accused

Police continued their hunt on Thursday for illicit liquor dealer Moti Singh, main accused in the killing of a constable and injuring of a sub inspector in Nagla Dhimar village, under Sidhpura police station of Kasganj district on Tuesday night.

The cops also declared a reward of Rs 50,000 for Moti Singh’s arrest.

Kasganj police said an aide of Singh, identified as Nawab, was arrested on Thursday and was being questioned.

“More police teams have been constituted, and combing operation is on to nab Singh. A reward of Rs 50,000 has been declared on him,” said superintendent of police (SP) Manoj Sonkar.

Sonkar further said an accused, considered to be a close aide of Moti Singh, has been arrested. “His name is Nawab and is believed to be engaged in sale of illicit liquor. He is being interrogated,” said Sonkar.

Meanwhile, injured sub-inspector Ashok Pal was on oxygen support on Thursday, but in stable condition while under treatment in Aligarh. Commissioner, Aligarh division, Gaurav Dayal visitied the sub-inspector in hospital.

A police team, meanwhile, destroyed the bhattis (furnace) built to manufacture illicit liquor in Katri area of Kasganj.

Sources said Moti Singh has been in illicit liquor business for past seven years despite 11 cases registered against him. He continued his business despite police knowing about his criminal activities, the sources said.

On Wednesday, one of the accused in the killing of the constable was gunned down in an encounter with the police in Kasganj.

The man killed was Elkar Singh, brother of Moti Singh, according to police.

The constable was beaten to death and the sub-inspector seriously injured when a police team had gone to Nagla Dhimar village to serve a warrant on Moti Singh on Tuesday evening, police officials said.

Moti Singh and Elkar Singh had fired on the two cops and later attacked them with sharp weapons after taking them hostage. The accused even looted the service revolver of the subinspector.

A case has been registered at Sidhpura police station under relevant sections against Moti Singh, Elkar Singh and six unidentified accused.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had ordered stringent action against the accused, including under the National Security Act.