Jamshedpur hotelier murder case cracked, two shooters held in UP
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK Jamshedpur, August 31: The sensational murder of young hotelier Nikhar Sablok appears to have been cracked with the…
Nikhar Sablok (file pic)
THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Jamshedpur, August 31: The sensational murder of young hotelier Nikhar Sablok appears to have been cracked with the arrest of two alleged shooters from Uttar Pradesh and a suspected facilitator from Mango, police said.
The arrests, made within six days of the killing, mark a breakthrough in a case that had triggered concern across Jamshedpur and adjoining areas.
The alleged facilitator has been identified as Abhimanyu Singh alias Sintu Singh of Mango. Police suspect that he played a key role in arranging and coordinating the operation.
CCTV, Technical Surveillance Led Police to Shooters
The investigation began with an analysis of CCTV footage from the crime scene and surrounding areas. The footage provided investigators with crucial leads about the alleged shooters and their movements.
Police subsequently combined CCTV inputs with call-detail records, mobile location data, technical surveillance and information obtained during questioning of suspects.
Police had earlier arrested the driver who allegedly transported the shooters. His interrogation reportedly provided investigators with important clues about the suspects’ movements, contacts and escape route after the murder.
Acting on these leads, police teams expanded the investigation to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh and conducted searches at multiple locations.
The efforts eventually led to the arrest of the two alleged shooters in Uttar Pradesh.
Contract Killing Angle Under Probe
Investigators have found evidence pointing towards a possible contract killing, sources said. The two arrested shooters are suspected of having been hired to eliminate Sablok.
Police are also probing their alleged involvement in an earlier major murder case in Jharkhand. Investigators are examining whether the suspects have links with a wider professional criminal network.
Sources further claimed that the alleged shooters came into contact with gangster Akhilesh Singh while they were lodged in Dumka jail and were subsequently allegedly brought into the conspiracy to eliminate Sablok.
However, several key aspects of the case are yet to be officially established, including the alleged mastermind, the person who contacted the shooters, the amount allegedly paid for the killing and where the conspiracy was finalised.
Facilitator’s Role Under Scanner
Police are also questioning the alleged role of Abhimanyu Singh alias Sintu Singh in the murder conspiracy.
Investigators are examining whether he arranged the shooters’ stay and transportation in Jamshedpur, facilitated their movements and helped coordinate their escape after the killing.
The investigation had initially focused on a land dispute and a related complaint. Police are now examining the wider circumstances surrounding the dispute, the relationships between the accused and the sequence of events that allegedly culminated in Sablok’s murder.
With the arrest of the two alleged shooters, their suspected facilitator and the earlier arrest of the driver, investigators believe they have made substantial progress in reconstructing the conspiracy.
The accused are being brought to Jamshedpur. Police are expected to hold a detailed briefing after their arrival and disclose further details regarding the motive, alleged conspiracy, individual roles and sequence of events leading to the murder.
