Police solves cop's murder, nabs wife, nephew

Hoshiarpur, Nov 21 (UNI) Punjab Police claimed to have solved the recent murder of a head constable here with the arrest of his wife and her soldier nephew.

SSP R N Dhoke told media persons here that the couple had strained relations and apparently fed up of the regular beatings, Jaswinder Kaur, wife of Punjab police Head Constable Prabhjinder Singh of village Fattan Chack, roped in her nephew Harpreet, a soldier, to kill him for Rs 7 lakh.

The SSP said that HC Prabhjinder Singh posted as gunman with Sant Baba Charan Singh of Dera Bhikhowal, was shot dead at his home on the intervening night of November 10-11.

His wife, Jaswinder Kaur had stated that at about 0130 hrs that night, someone rang the doorbell and as soon as she opened the door, four unidentified youths sprayed her with something that made her unconscious and locked her in the nearby room. Her children were sleeping in the adjacent room.

After few minutes, she heard firing sound. She cried loudly and again went unconscious. She further stated that the accused took away Rs 80,000 cash and golden ornaments from an almirah in the store. On her statement an FIR had been registered at Dasuya Police Station.

However, the SSP said that during investigations police felt that HC Prabhjinder Singh was murdered under a plan and no theft has taken place.

When the family members were questioned separately, it came to light that deceased Prabhjinder Singh used to beat up his wife and children quite frequently.

During interrogation, Jaswinder Kaur broke down and confessed to striking a deal with her nephew Harpreet Singh, serving in 67th Engineering Regiment at Meerut for Rs 7 lakh and paying him Rs 2.5 lakh as advance for killing her husband.

The Police had contacted the Army authorities and obtained the arrest warrants of Singh. Police have also arrested accused Jaswinder Kaur, Mr Dhoke added.

UNI XC JN PA HT1737