Minor murdered for ransom, people question police inaction

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Rattan Sharma

13 June, 2010

As soon as the news of boy's killing spread in the area, hundreds of peoples including relatives of the victim took to street and blocked the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway near Satwari for several hours

In what could be called as police’s inability to act timely, a fifth standard student who was kidnapped yesterday, was brutally murdered in the City outskirts of Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir state.

A ten-year old boy Shalin Gupta son of Naresh Gupta of Nai Basti, who was kidnapped last evening, was found murdered after his throat-slit body was found in Beli Charana area this morning.

The victim was allegedly kidnapped by duo, identified as Devinder Singh of Nai Basti and Gagandeep Singh of Talab Tillo, yesterday demanding Rs ten lakh ransom.

The deceased was returning home from a shop last evening when he was kidnapped. He was a student of Air Force School.

Both the accused have been arrested by police.

As soon as the news of boy’s killing spread in the area, hundreds of peoples including relatives of the victim took to street and blocked the Pathankot-Jammu National Highway near Satwari for several hours.

The people also entered into the house of accused Devinder Singh, resident of Nai Basti, and set his house on fire and set it on fire.

On getting information, Deputy Commissioner Jammu M K Diwedi along with SSP Jammu Basant Rath rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the situation. They assured the protesters for strict action against the culprits behind the killing.

Victim’s father, Naresh Gupta, who runs a shop and ration depot, had reportedly received a call from the kidnappers demanding Rs 10 lakh as ransom for the release of his son.

He told reporters that police had arrested Devinder Singh following an anonymous call, but was released after half-an-hour.

Meanwhile, DIG Jammu-Kathua Range Farooq Khan informed that kidnapper demanded Rs 5 lakh ransom from the father of the Shalin even they killed the minor after 15 minutes of kidnapping.
He said family members have not lodged any complaint and police has looking into all aspects of the case on their own after getting a report of killing of minor boy. He informed that the culprits who were identified as Gagandeep Singh of Gole Gujral and Devinder Singh of Nai Basti kidnapped the boy last evening and sent him to Beli Charana area where they committed the heinous crime.

He said a case was registered against both the culprits.

Meanwhile, killing of innocent boy has been widely condemned by people.

Condemning the murder, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu said that the gruesome murder brings to the fore the prevailing law and order situation in and around Jammu. With his death, a budding flower has been un-plucked before blossom. The very fact that the abductors managed to lift Master Shalin from such crowded place like Nai Basti which bristles with life at that time speaks volumes about the law and order situation in and around Jammu. Ransom killing was unheard of in our city and this heinous crime has shattered the peace loving image of Dogra Culture. With the Amarnath Yatra just few days away the police and the administration should rise from their deep slumber to actively pursue and nab all those anti-social elements who may disrupt the peace and tranquility of the region as well as to disrupt the Amarnath Yatra.

Member Legislative Council and Spokesperson Pradesh Congress Committee Ravinder Sharma, has also expressed grave shock and anguish over the gruesome murder of minor.

Condemning the first of its kind, Sharma said that this has shocked every peaceful citizen. He also took exception to the inability of the local police to rescue the boy in time and demanded that the culprits should be brought to book at all costs.

The members of Shri Ram Sena Jammu Kashmir have shown their great resentments against the murder case of a minor child, in this peace loving City of Temples. Rajiv Mahajan, President SRS said that some criminal minded persons have started to play such intolerable role for the sake of money.

Panthers Party also accused the administration and the police for their total failure to protect the life and liberty of the innocent people.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha State President Munish Sharma also expressed grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Jammu district.