M A I N   N E W S

Parents of IAS officer done to death
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Bhikhiwind, July 12
The septuagenarian parents of a senior IAS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, Dr Amar Singh, were brutally killed at their house, a few yards from the police station, in this border town in the wee hours here today.

The culprits set the room of the victims on fire in order to finish evidence before fleeing. However, on a tip-off, the police arrested Nishan Singh, a former servant who is resident of Manakpur village, near here, and his cousin Mahanvir Singh, within a few hours of the crime.

The couple, Malkit Singh (76) and his wife Ms Gurdev Kaur (70), parents of Dr Amar Singh, who is posted as Joint Secretary, Rural Development, Government of India, New Delhi, were living in the busy lane of this border town, opposite the police station. One of the sons of the victims, Gurdev Singh, a Congress leader and member of the District Grievances Committee, however, lives separately in the same town.

Dr Amar Singh had a stint as Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Maharashtra for a long time before moving to Delhi.

The victim, who was running a shoe shop, had disposed of his establishment recently.

Though the police has arrested former servant of the deceased couple and his accomplice, the authorities were hunting for clues to solve the mystery surrounding the murder.

The motive behind the killing appears to be revenge, since he was shown the door by the couple about six months ago. However, Mr Gurdev Singh apprehended a “deep-rooted conspiracy” behind the murder. He alleged that he had good relations with Nishan Singh, who used to borrow money from him and it might be possible that his services were hired by someone to settle score with the family.

The culprits used sharp-edged weapons to commit the crime. The “Shah Rag” (jugular vein/artery) of the old lady was cut and then a pillow was used to finish the old man. They used a wooden ladder to flee after committing the crime. A resident of the town, Mr Ajit Singh, neighbour of the victims, said he saw smoke emanating from the house of the couple when he went out for morning walk. He then raised an alarm to call residents of the colony. The submersible pump of the house was used to put out the fire. However, legs of one of the bodies were charred in the fire.

Dr Rattan Singh reached the village in a helicopter of the Army. Senior police officials, including Mr Parveen Sinha, district police chief, rushed to the spot on hearing the news.

The alleged accused Nishan Singh has a dubious background. He reportedly had illicit relations with a girl of the area and both had fled from the house some time ago.