Akali leaders arrested for abduction and murder

Bathinda, May 28 (UNI) Police today arrested two local Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders in the alleged kidnapping and murder of a prominent trader in village Bhakta Bhai in this district.

According to police sources, Bhakta Bhai block committee member Balbir Singh and Akalia Jalal Panchayat member Gurprit Singh have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping businessman Shyam Lal, who was also a close associate of local Congress MLA G S Khangad. A third accused Gurinder Singh of Rajasthan, is absconding, they said.

The two accused have reportedly told police that they had kidnapped Shyam Lal on May 14 and repeatedly injected him with drugs.

The trader died after three days and they threw his body in nearby Abohar branch.

However, they continued to seek a ransom of Rs one crore for the ''safe release'' of the deceased trader from his family and at last the family agreed to pay Rs 40 lakh and also informed the police.

Today, police in plainclothes accompanied the trader's family members when they went to hand over the money to Balbir and Gurprit and nabbed the duo on the spot.

The third accused Gurinder would also be arrested soon, they said.

The body of Shyam Lal has not been recovered so far and police was investigating the case.

UNI XC JN JS2009