Tonk police on Tuesday arrested two men, a brother-in-law duo, for allegedly shooting dead a 26-year-old police constable during a poaching interception in a forest area of the district. The deceased, Bhagchand Saini, was posted at the Kakod police outpost and was on patrol when he confronted the accused, who were allegedly hunting illegally.
Incident Details
According to police, one of the accused, identified as Rajesh Meena (32), a resident of the Uniara police station area in Tonk, fired at Constable Saini with a muzzle-loading gun. The bullet struck Saini in the chest, killing him instantly. The other accused was identified as Rajesh's brother-in-law, Dilraj Meena (32), from the Nainwa area of Bundi district.
Police said the duo had entered the forest armed with an illegal firearm for poaching when the incident occurred. Saini's blood-soaked body was found on Sunday morning on the road between Rupwas and Kakod villages under Banetha police station limits, sparking suspicion among family members.
Investigation and Arrests
Senior officers, including Tonk Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar Meena, rushed to the spot along with forensic teams to collect evidence. During the investigation, police seized the weapon used in the crime, along with pellets, gunpowder, a knife, and a motorcycle from the accused. The arrests were made based on technical evidence and inputs from the informer network.
SP Meena said four teams were constituted to crack the case, given its gravity. On a complaint lodged by Kaluram Saini, a relative of the constable, Banetha police registered a murder case. Further interrogation of the accused is underway.
Government Assistance and Family Consent
Following an assurance of government assistance of approximately Rs 1 crore and a job for a family member, the victim's family consented to the post-mortem, after which the body was handed over. The police investigation continues as they seek to uncover more details about the illegal poaching operation and the events leading to the constable's death.
