PESHAWAR, Pakistan: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Police Malakand Region, Azad Khan here Monday said that all the six accused including the hired assassin involved in the murder of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Minorities Affairs Sardar Soran Singh have been arrested, saying that PTI disgruntled leader Baldev Kumar maneuvered the assassination.
Addressing a press conference here at Malik Saad Shaheed police lines, DIG Malakand said that police have made a big breakthrough in the Singh’s murder case by apprehending six accused including target killer Mukhtair, resident of Swabi and recovered the weapon used in the offence.
He said Baldev Kumar considered Soran Singh being a very popular among electorates of his constituency as a major political rival and maneuvered his assassination.
Following receiving information about the killing of Singh in front of his house at village Bacha Kallay at 6:45 pm on April 22 last, the DIG said special police raiding teams led by DPO Buner Khalid Hamdani was constituted to arrest the killers.
On secret information, a suspect Bahroz son of Mirza Gul resident of Bacha Kallay was nabbed and during interrogation, the accused disclosed the names of other accused including his brother Akbar Ali son of Mirza Gul resident of Dhagai Swabi, target killer Mukhtair Muhammad son of Mir Nawaz Khan resident of Punjmand Swabi, Said Jan son of Kabal resident of Gond Changali, Baldev Kumar son of Nanak Chand resident Akakhel Barikot and Alam Khan resident of Shangla.
He said about Rs 1 million were said to be distributed among the target killer and facilitators for assassination of Singh. DIG Azad Khan said target killer Mukhtair has confessed to his involvement in several cases of heinous nature including murder in district Swabi whereas accused Akbar Ali and his brother Bahroz were the hired assassins whereas Said Jan was also wanted in heinous cases like dacoity, robbery and murder for ransom. He said a weapon and motorcycle used in the offence were recovered from the accused.
To a question, Azad Khan said banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Khursani had claimed the responsibility for the killing of MPA Singh soon after the incident but the police investigation proved it wrong.
To a question, the DIG said two policemen were deployed on security of the deceased but he had refused the same on grounds that his areas was peaceful and he wanted to remain in open contact with his electorates.
He said the deceased was very popular among people of his area and was very patriotic Pakistani whose death made everybody saddened and aggrieved.
The DIG to a question said that several sections of Anti-Terrorism Act were incorporated in this high profile murder case as it was an attempt to create terror and fear among the people and the accused would be tried in Anti-Terrorism Court.
Roshan Singh, the cousin of deceased Soran Singh told media that he was satisfied with the outcome of the police investigation and demanded exemplary punishment to the accused. He assured full cooperation to the police in future investigations. He lauded the timely action of Government and KP Police for arrest the culprits.
Source: APP
