Police look to quiz Bishnoi, SIT revamped
MANSA/CHANDIGARH: A special investigation team (SIT) of Mansa police, probing the murder of Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala, is preparing to bring gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from Delhi for questioning in the case, officials said.
Bishnoi, who is the prime suspect in the murder case, was arrested by Delhi Police on Tuesday in connection with a case of arms act registered against him and his accomplices in the capital last year. Hours later, the gangster moved Delhi HC for blocking custody to Punjab Police, claiming fear for his life. However, he withdrew his plea on Wednesday and decided to file the same before Punjab and Haryana high court.
Briefing reporters, SSP Gaurav Toora said Punjab police have got important leads in Moosewala’s murder case and they are working on it. “The SIT has traced the route used by the accused to escape. Some important clues have been found... Based on the leads during the investigation, police have arrested one person and brought two members of the Lawrance Bishnoi gang from Bathinda and Ferozepur jails on production warrants. Bishnoi’s involvement is to be probed,” Toora said. “Since Bishnoi is in the custody of Delhi Police, as per law, we cannot seek his remand right now. We are preparing to move the local court,” he added.
SIT reconstituted
Meanwhile, Punjab Police on Wednesday reconstituted its SIT under the supervision of ADGP of Anti-gangster Task Force, Parmod Ban. An order issued by DGP Bhawra said the new SIT will be headed by IGP PAP Jaskaran Singh and will consist of six members.
A member of the SIT, who did not wish to be named, said the SIT was reconstituted sensing involvement of inter-state gangs and possibility of weapons smuggled from Pakistan. Since the police probe has so far hinted at the possible use of a Russian Assault Rifle AN-94 in the attack, senior intelligence officials are not ruling out the possibility of the arrival of the assault rifle via smuggling from Pakistan. “The assault from this rifle can sneak through the glass of the bullet proof vehicle as well which reflects that the plan was to attack the singer even if he came in a bullet proof car,” the SIT member said.