Bhojpur police have arrested Pintu Kumar, the alleged key accused in the murder of retired customs officer Ram Kumar Singh, who was shot dead on October 15 amid a dispute over land, police said on Tuesday. Investigators allege that Kumar arranged the killing after receiving money from a network accused of trying to take control of the disputed property.
Bhojpur superintendent of police Awadhesh Dixit said Kumar was arrested on Monday from the district. Police identified him in CCTV footage as the person riding the motorcycle on which two alleged shooters travelled on the morning of the killing. The arrest is the fifth in the case.
According to Dixit, Kumar is a resident of Bihiya block and has previous cases related to murder, liquor and ganja smuggling registered at different police stations in the state. Police said he allegedly admitted during initial interrogation to accepting a contract to arrange Singh’s murder.
The SP said Kumar received Rs 2 lakh in advance from alleged main accused Chandan Singh to purchase arms and ammunition. Police also said that another Rs 4 lakh to Rs 5 lakh was received for other expenses, although the exact amount would be established during the investigation. These claims are based on the police account of the interrogation and have not been tested in court.
Police allege that the contract was arranged by a network of 15 to 20 people who wanted to take control of land that Singh possessed after obtaining a stay order, or injunction, in the disputed property matter. The case therefore links the alleged killing to a property conflict in which legal possession and competing claims over land had become central issues, according to the police investigation.
Police had previously arrested Chandan Singh, described as the alleged main accused, along with Manoj Lucky, Tipu and Abhishek. Dixit said investigators had identified additional alleged land grabbers who may have been involved in the conspiracy. Police have not disclosed the names of all those persons or detailed the evidence against them.
The police chief said authorities would begin attaching the properties of accused persons who remain absconding. The investigation is continuing, and police said further details would be released after it is completed. The allegations against the arrested and absconding accused remain subject to the outcome of the judicial process.
