Mardan police on Thursday claimed to have arrested a serving police constable in connection with the killing of a Sikh couple inside a gurdwara in the city, describing the development as a major breakthrough in the investigation.
Press Conference Details
Addressing a press conference, District Police Officer (DPO) Masood Ahmed said unidentified gunmen had entered the gurdwara in Babu Mohalla, Khawaja Ganj Bazaar, within the jurisdiction of Hoti Police Station on Wednesday and shot dead Jagannath, son of Hari Ram, and his wife, Asavanti.
Investigation Team and Arrest
He said a special investigation team headed by SSP Investigation Maria Mustafa was constituted immediately after the incident. The team employed a range of investigative and technical tools, including geo-fencing, which led to the arrest of Sher Shah, son of Nader Shah, a resident of Iranabad.
According to the DPO, the suspect is a serving police constable who joined the force in 2011 and had previously been deployed on security duty at the Sikh gurdwara for approximately 13 months. He said the constable was posted at the Police Lines at the time of the incident.
Suspect's Background
Masood Ahmed said the suspect's father was also employed by the police department. He added that investigators had so far found no evidence linking the suspect to any banned organisation, terrorist network or organised criminal group.
Ongoing Investigation
The DPO said the suspect had presented his version of events during initial interrogation, but investigators were continuing to examine the case from multiple angles. Police have recovered a .30-bore pistol allegedly used in the shooting and sent it for forensic examination, the DPO said.
The motorcycle believed to have been used during the commission of the crime has also been recovered. Masood Ahmed said further investigation was under way and that all aspects of the case were being examined thoroughly before the submission of a final report.
