A key accused in the murder of a dairy farm owner in Loni, identified as Gaurav, was arrested on Saturday following a brief gunfight with the police. During the encounter, Gaurav sustained a bullet injury to his leg. Authorities recovered an unregistered motorcycle and an illegal firearm from his possession.
Arrest Details and Case Progress
The arrest came a day after another key accused, Mohit, was sent to jail. With Gaurav's arrest, the total number of individuals taken into custody in connection with the case has risen to 26. Three other key accused remain absconding, and police have announced rewards of Rs 50,000 for information leading to their capture. Apart from Gaurav and Mohit, the other 24 arrested individuals are relatives who allegedly sheltered the five main accused.
Background of the Crime
On the morning of May 30, five youths from Loni's Ganauli village, including Mohit and Gaurav, shot Omkar while he was on his way to collect fodder. They then loaded the body into a car and fled the scene. The victim's body has not yet been recovered, as it was dumped in a canal near Baghpat.
Motive Revealed During Interrogation
During interrogation, Gaurav admitted to the crime. He stated that after bundling Omkar's body into the car, they drove around searching for a place to dispose of it. He confirmed that the murder was motivated by revenge following a road rage incident between his friend and Omkar's son, Devansh. Devansh had filed a complaint with the Loni police station regarding the matter. However, when the panchayat attempted to mediate, Omkar slapped Gaurav's friend and his father, prompting the five to plan the killing.
Body Disposal and Search Efforts
Gaurav claimed that after shooting Omkar, they threw his body into the Ganganahar canal near the Pooth Khas bridge in Meerut's Rohta area. Despite extensive search operations over the past eight days, the body has not been recovered. Police teams continue to search canal stretches across Meerut and Baghpat districts. Investigators believe that the latest arrests may help pinpoint the exact location where the body was disposed of.
