Gopal Sharma
RAJOURI, July 28: A police constable gunned down two sisters and then shot himself to death, using his own service weapon (AK-47), at Thermal Colony in Kalakote town last mid-night.
The incident evoked massive protest demonstration in Kalakote town today. The irate people raised slogans against local police, alleging their involvement in the case. They were demanding high level Magisterial inquiry into the whole episode and removal of local SHO. Constable Sanjay Singh, a former body guard of SHO consumed total eight bullet of his AK-47 rifle to kill both the sisters and self, and completed this operation within three-four minutes.
While Deputy Commiss-ioner Rajouri, Jitender Singh has ordered Magisterial inquiry into the matter, SSP Rajouri, Mubassar Latiffi said that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Additional SP Nowshera, Rakesh Kumar Sharma will conduct thorough probe in the case and submit report within 10 days. Tehsildar, Kalakote Abdul Majid Tantray has been directed by the DC to hold inquiry and submit a report within a week.
Both the sisters have been identified as Urmila (27), wife of Chaman Lal, an SPO, resident of village Gharat, about 20 kms from here and Nisha (21), daughter of Punjab Singh, resident of Thermal Colony. Since Punjab Singh was a worker of Thermal Power Plant, he had been residing in this colony since long. After his death, his elder and married sister started living here in this colony house and Nisha, who is student of BA-Part-II was also residing with her sister while her mother was living in the village. Urmil was working in a local Anganwadi centre at Kalakote as helper. Her husband, Chaman Lal ( SPO), was at Rajouri as he had been transferred there by the District police authorities.
Last night, their neighbours heard the sound of gun fires from their house and they informed Police Station. The people suspected it as militant attack. However, later they moved nearer the house and by that time police had also reached there. They found both Nisha and Urmil lying in pool of blood. Constable Sanjay Singh was also lying dead in the adjoining room along with his weapon. He had used one bullet under his chin and his skull had broken. The police seized weapon and removed all the three dead bodies to Kalakote hospital.
In the morning, the people of the area assembled in the Colony and started protest against local police. They allegd that Constable Sanjay Singh was frequent visitor to this house. They demanded high level inquiry and action against police officials in the case. They were demanding Magisterial inquiry into the matter. The town observed bandh during morning hours, but later with the intervention of senior officers SDPO and Tehsildar, Kalakote it was lifted. ASP Nowshera, Rakesh Kumar and SSP Rajouri Mubassar Latiffi also reached there in the morning. Later, MLA also joined the administration to resolve the issue. It took long time to settle the issue.
The officers assured the agitating public that impartial investigation would be conducted into the case and the truth will come out. The District Police also agreed to provide permanent job in Police department to SPO Chaman Lal and shift him back to Kalakote. The protest continued till 1.30 pm in the town. Later, the dead bodies of all the three were carried to their respective places for last rites by their family members.
Sources said that Chaman Lal, was working as SPO at Kalakote Police Station. He had been transferred to Rajouri from Kalakote.
SSP Rajouri, when contacted said that Constable Sanjay Singh, hails from Nowshera area. He had been posted in Kalakote Police Station. He had gone on leave and returned late last evening. He quietly picked up his service weapon and left from his barrack near Thana by jumping from the back side wall and reached in the house of SPO Chaman Lal. He had some arguments with both the sisters over an issue of engagement and then gunned down both of them and committed suicide with the same rifle.
When asked about the reason of killing both, the SSP said Sanjay Singh used to visit that house and he was interested to marry Nisha. The family had also asked him to get the girl married with him. But about a week back, the family members conducted her engagement some where else. This irked Sanjay Singh and in fit of anger, he went to that house and killed both of them after a tiff and then committed suicide. He denied any role of SHO in the case and maintained that this was the preliminary information gathered so far.
On the issue of transfer of single SPO from Kalakote Thana to Rajouri, about 40 kms away, the SSP said for election duty he had been shifted there and it is routine during the elections. Mr Latiffi said a SIT led by ASP Nowshera has been constituted to investigate the matter. After postmortem bodies were handed over to the respective families.
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