A day after the murder of Anngarh resident Harpal Singh here, the people of the locality came out in protest on Thursday to demand the arrest of main accused Jasbir Singh and eleven other named in the case.
The protesters blocked traffic outside the Gate Hakima police station, where the victim's family declined to cremate the body until the accused were in the lockup. It took the police several hours to pacify the family and get it to cremate Harpal Singh.
The motive of murder is said to be old enmity, and the people of the neighbourhood said police laxity had allow the accused to get away. Reacting to the allegation, additional deputy commissioner of police (I) Parampal Singh said: "We have suspended the Gate Hakima station house officer (SHO) after the residents accused him of negligence. We are taking the matter very seriously and a hunt for the accused is on."