The district police have arrested two more people from the International Airport of Chennai in connection with the murder of Akali leader Beant Singh of Wadhaghar village in the district.
A week ago, the police had arrested two accused Gurpreet Singh alias Luggi and Daljinder Singh alias Mota, residents of Behbal Kalan village in Fardikot district, in the case.
Beant Singh, 45, son of senior Akali leader and former chairman of block samiti Moga-2 Kartar Singh, was allegedly shot by three armed men outside his house on June 12. He was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, where he was declared dead on June 16.
Police had registered a criminal case against Harsimrandeep Singh alias Simra, his father Gurmukh Singh, mother Manpreet Kaur, residents of Behbal Kalan in Faridkot district and two unidentified people under Sections 302(murder), 506, 34, 307 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code on the statement of the deceased's father Kartar Singh at Baghapurana police station on June 12.
According to the police, the investigation team found that Gurmukh Singh and Manpreet Kaur, father and mother of Simra, who had been booked in the case, had fled to Malaysia before the murder on June 9.
Sub-inspector Ved Parkash Sharma, who is also investigation officer in the case, said that both Gurmukh Singh and Manpreet Kaur returned from Malaysia on Wednesday morning. "The Chennai International Airport authorities informed us immediately regarding the landing of the accused. A special police team was sent to Chennai to arrest them. After they were brought here, we produced them in a local court and the court ordered to send them in judicial custody for 14 days," said the police official.
{{/usCountry}}Sub-inspector Ved Parkash Sharma, who is also investigation officer in the case, said that both Gurmukh Singh and Manpreet Kaur returned from Malaysia on Wednesday morning. "The Chennai International Airport authorities informed us immediately regarding the landing of the accused. A special police team was sent to Chennai to arrest them. After they were brought here, we produced them in a local court and the court ordered to send them in judicial custody for 14 days," said the police official.
{{/usCountry}}"During investigation, the police also found that the main accused Simra wanted to marry an NRI nephew of the deceased Akali leader Beant Singh; however, Beant Singh and his other family members were against it. Hence, Simra and his aides planned to murder Beant Singh," said the police official.
It was believed that the main accused Simra had also fled abroad after murdering Beant Singh.
Jatinder Singh Khaira, Moga senior superintendent of police (SSP), said, "We had issued the look-out-circular (LOC) at all international airports across the country for nabbing main accused Simra, Gurmukh Singh and Manpreet Kaur. However, a special police team has been formed to catch Simra and I hope that he will be in the police net soon. Further investigation is underway at the moment."