Punjab Newsline | Shimla
District Police have solved the sensational murder of Manisha Mittal, who was shot dead near Saraswati Paradise School in Sanjauli on June 13, revealing that the crime was allegedly masterminded over a property dispute.
Addressing the media, ASP City Mehar Panwar said the police treated the case as a top priority immediately after the incident and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to crack the case.
Based on technical evidence and sustained investigation, the SIT arrested the two alleged shooters, identified as Ashish Ahlawat and Deepak, from Rohtak in Haryana within nearly 39 hours of the murder. Police also recovered the two pistols allegedly used in the crime from their possession.
During the investigation, police found that the deceased had an ongoing property dispute with her brother, Himanshu Mittal, and his business associate, Govind. According to investigators, Govind allegedly rented the Swift car used in the murder and arranged it for the shooters. He is also accused of transferring money to Deepak's bank account to facilitate the crime.
Police further revealed that after the murder, Govind fled abroad. Even after returning to India, he allegedly kept his mobile phone switched off and frequently changed locations to evade arrest.
Following continuous technical surveillance and intelligence-based operations, police tracked and arrested Govind from Rohtak on June 28. A local court subsequently granted four days of police remand for further interrogation.
With the arrests of Himanshu Mittal, Govind, and the two alleged shooters, police say the conspiracy behind the murder has been uncovered, and further investigation into the case is ongoing.
