Arjun Sharma murder: Shooters received Rs 2-3 lakh in advance for crime, says SSP

The shooters involved in the broad daylight murder of Arjun Sharma, son of a fallen Colonel, were promised Rs 12 lakh to execute the killing and had received an advance of Rs 2-3 lakh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun Ajay Singh said on Thursday. The revelation came after police arrested the two accused in separate encounters across the district. Speaking exclusively to ANI, the SSP said the accused had been planning the murder for nearly 15-20 days before carrying it out. "Different teams were deployed, and based on the information received, unknown vehicles coming from outside were traced by the police. We had intelligence that the accused was going to the Doiwala Area to visit his relative. A trap was laid, and during the operation, the accused sustained a bullet injury to his leg. He was referred to the District Hospital for medical treatment," he said.

"When an attempt was made to catch one of the accused, he fired on the police party, due to which he got injured and is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital. Based on the information of the second accused, when he was stopped, he also fired at the police party. He is also injured and undergoing treatment," Singh said. The SSP identified the arrested accused as real brothers Pankaj Rana and Rajveer, the latter having previously been jailed in 1997 in a murder case registered at Clementown police station.

Arjun Sharma, 42, was allegedly shot dead by two scooter-borne assailants near the Tibetan Market on Wednesday morning. Following the incident, police launched an intensive operation, including barricades and strict checks across Dehradun's urban and rural areas. The SSP said four people have been named in the FIR, including a driver associated with one of the accused. "Four people are included in the FIR; one of the accused is also a driver. Many of the things he told us are now being verified. The things which were told in this are not very concrete, but the things which were told that Rs 12 lakh was agreed upon and he received Rs 3 lakh," he said.

Both accused have also been booked for firing at the police during the encounters. "This is a murder case; it's sensitive. All evidence must be collected, so we're cross-verifying and investigating whatever information we've received," the SSP added. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)