A suspended policeman with a ‘dubious service record’ has turned out to be the alleged mastermind of the petrol bomb attack on a Kashmir-bound truck in Udhampur on October 9 which resulted in the death of 18-year-old Zahid Bhat.
Investigations have revealed that suspended policeman Jasbir Singh, a resident of Laddan in Udhampur, was the alleged mastermind behind the October 9 attack.
Sources said Jasbir had planned the entire incident and given money to members of the “maya gang”, headed by Varinder Singh, alias Kaka, a Nepali citizen, at present putting up at Shiv Nagar in Udhampur, to carry out the attack. Jasbir has a dubious track record and investigations revealed that he was in touch with one Amit, who is believed to have thrown a petrol bomb on the truck, sources said. Amit was still at large, they added.
“We have succeeded in arresting nine accused in the case so far, including the mastermind Jasbir Singh, who had earlier been suspended from the police service. A special investigation team headed by Additional Superintendent of Police Mohan Lal Kaith is on toes to nab other accused, who are on the run,” said Surinder Gupta, Deputy Inspector General, Udhampur-Reasi range.
“We have sufficient evidence, including CCTV footages, against the accused. Their previous crime history has also been put on record and accordingly the Public Safety Act (PSA) has been slapped against all nine arrested so far,” said Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Deputy Commissioner, Udhampur.
The Udhampur DC further said the other accused, who were on the run, would be behind bars soon.
The accused have been booked under Sections 307, 336, 436, 147, 148, 120-B and 427 of the RPC and 3/5 of the Explosives Substances Act.
The PSA has been slapped against Jasbir Singh; Rahul Sharma, Suneet Singh and Rameshwar Singh, alias Guchhu, all the residents of Sambal; Sandoor Singh of Gool; Danish, alias Pamma, of Dewak, Udhampur; Harish Singh Katoch of Bhimdassa, Gool; Balbahadur Singh alias Abbu of Moungri; and Varinder Singh, alias Kaka.
