Gujarat constable killed by history-sheeter held from Vadodara

Ahmedabad, April 22: A history-sheeter accused of killing a constable inside city crime branch office has been arrested within 24 hours from Karjan railway station in Vadodara district, police said on Friday, April 22.

Manish Balai was apprehended last night from Karjan railway station with the help of railway authorities and Vadodara police, police said.

Constable Chandrakant Makwana (37) was allegedly murdered by Balai, a history-sheeter, inside the squad office of high security city crime branch office during interrogation yesterday morning. He had managed to flee from the spot after committing the murder.

Balai, a native of Rajasthan, went to Mumbai via train and had planned to reach Jaipur from Bandra-Jaipur express, Joint Commissioner of Police (crime branch) J K Bhatt said today. "As we had put his phone on surveillance, we realised that he has reached Mumbai from here. He then planned to reach Jaipur by Bandra-Jaipur train in evening.

Thus, we have decided to intercept him while it passed through Gujarat," Bhatt said. A crime branch team comprising over 200 personnel and officers, including some of Vadodara police, took their positions at Karjan station, around 40 kms from Vadodara, in night in civil attire.

They were led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Deepan Bhadran. "In order to not create any panic among passengers, we requested railway authorities to stop the train at Karjan station, which is not a stoppage of that train.

One of the teams found Manish inside a general coach and nabbed him. He was then brought here by our team here," the officer said.

Police will produce Balai before a local court to seek his remand, Bhatt said. The incident comes as an embarrassment to the image of the elite force, which has a high reputation of solving crimes, happened despite three-layered security deployed at the crime branch.

According to the crime branch, Balai was brought to the office by Makwana in connection with a loot case for questioning. "Balai had hit an iron rod on Makwana's head and face and managed to flee. We learnt about the murder only after 6 AM as there was hardly anyone present in the office during night," Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) C N Rajput said.

PTI