In murder of J&K DGP, domestic help arrested hours after massive manhunt launched

New Delhi, Oct 04: A day after DGP of Jammu and Kashmir Prisons Department Hemant Kumar Lohia was found murdered at his residence in Jammu, the J&K police on Tuesday afternoon announced that his domestic help, the main accused in the case, has been arrested.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh said that the interrogation is underway. "In a major manhunt launched by J&K police throughout the night, the accused involved in murder case of Hemant Lohia has been apprehended. Interrogation of the accused has started," Singh said in a statement.

Lohia a 57 year old 1992 IPS officer was found with his throat slit at his Udaiwala residence. He was posted as DGP Prisons in August. Burn injuries have also been found on his body.

"The body of Shri Hemant Lohia DG Prisons JK was found under suspicious circumstances. First examination of the scene of crime reveals this as a suspected murder case. The domestic help with the officer is absconding. A search for him has started. Forensic teams and crime teams are on the spot. The investigation process has begun. Senior officers are on the spot. J&K police family express grief and deep sorrow over the death of their senior officer," the ADGP.

Earlier, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh told PTI that the preliminary investigation showed that the killer had first suffocated Lohia to death and then used a broken ketchup bottle to slit his throat. He also tried to set the officer ablaze.