Ludhiana: Fugitive wanted in 2018 murder case found functioning as priest

The accused fled to Palampur, Himachal Pradesh and pursued a bachelor of theology degree, after which he shifted to Jandiala Guru and started working as a priest

Wanted in a murder case for the past two years, a fugitive was traced to a shrine in Jandiala Guru, where he was operating as a priest after securing a degree in theology while being on the run.

ADCP (City 1) Deepak Pareek (left) giving details about the arrest of the murder accused in Ludhiana on Monday. (HT Photo)

The accused, Ajay Kumar, 30, of Ashiana Colony, Jassian village, and three others are facing a case of murder for shooting dead a commission agent (arhtiya), Gharjit Singh Chaudhary, on June 28, 2018.

The other accused, Gaurav, alias Goru, Yograj and his brother, Vishal, are already behind bars.

“Police received information that Ajay was living in a shrine in Jandiala Guru, following which a raid was conducted and he was arrested. He will be produced in court on Tuesday,” said additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP, City 1) Deepak Pareek.

According to police, Ajay and his brothers-in-law Yograj and Vishal had provided an illegal weapon to Goru to murder Gharjit.

While the other three accused were nabbed, Ajay had managed to evade arrest and was declared a proclaimed offender on August 20, 2019.

Goru had gunned down Gharjit in broad daylight at the vegetable market on June 28, 2018. After his arrest, he had disclosed that he had procured the weapon from Ajay, Yograj and Vishal.