Scrap dealer staged ‘own shooting’ to get security

The Baddi police revealed a shocking twist in the case of scrap dealer Ramkrishan, who alleged being attacked by an armed assailant last week. According to Baddi SP Ilma Afroz, Ramkrishan orchestrated the shooting by hiring Iqbal Mohammed, a resident of Chanal Majra village. Mohammed was arrested at his home after briefly fleeing to Punjab and Haryana. The staged shooting occurred on October 26 in Dadi Kania village, where Mohammed fired at Ramkrishan’s bulletproof SUV door.

Nalagarh SHO Rakesh Roy shared that a country-made pistol, now under forensic examination, was used in the crime. Initial investigations suggest that Ramkrishan’s motive may have been to secure police protection. Mohammed, a scrap dealer and labour contractor with a criminal record, was remanded to five days in police custody under charges of criminal conspiracy and the Arms Act, with Ramkrishan facing charges of conspiracy.

Previously, Mohammed had been involved in criminal activities in the industrial belt, including cases of rioting, unlawful assembly, and criminal intimidation registered in October. In one instance, a youth from the majority community accused Mohammed and others of intimidation with weapons in Nalagarh market. Despite complaints, no arrests were made, possibly emboldening Mohammed to engage in further crimes. This incident has raised concerns about the prevalence of illegal arms in the industrial belt bordering Nalagarh.

The police’s lack of action on illegal weapons was highlighted by the area’s MLA, Hardeep Bawa, who had called for a crackdown on illegal arms in October. However, no significant efforts have been taken to address the issue, which has reportedly led to an increase in lawlessness.