Identification of convicts by auto driver proved crucial

Chandigarh, January 6

The CCTV footage and identification of murderers by an auto driver proved crucial in the conviction of the accused in the Kalka murder case.

The court appreciated the efforts of public prosecutor Kapil Gaur for going through minutest of the details and placing correct position of law and Inspector Arvind for thorough investigations and collecting scientific evidence in the case.

Initially, Inspector Arvind of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) only had a CCTV footage to start the investigations. There was a pressure on the police to crack down the murder case due to the brutality with which the murder was commited. In the CCTV footage, both murderers were wearing a mask, but after committing the crime and while robbing the jewellery, one of the accused, Iqbal Ahmed, had removed the mask and his face was visible. From the CCTV cameras outside the shop, an Innova car came under the police scanner.

Finding the convicts

• Inspector Arvind of the CIA only had CCTV footage to start the investigation. Both murderers were wearing a mask, but while looting the jewellery, one of the convicts, Iqbal Ahmed, had removed the mask and his face was visible.
• From CCTV cameras outside the shop, an Innova came under scanner.
• "But neither the Innova's number nor its colour was visible. Only half of the vehicle number could be established from the Chandimandir toll plaza footage," the inspector said.
• From the Dappar toll plaza, Inspector Arvind was successful in obtaining the entire registration number of the car used in the crime and driver Jagdish Ram was apprehended on July 13, 2016.
• Iqbal Ahmed and Mohammad Abid were arrested from Ambala.

"But neither the Innova's number nor its colour was visible. Then we scanned the complete CCTV footage of shops and houses from Kalka to the Chandimandir toll plaza. Only half of the vehicle number could be established from the toll plaza footage," he said. He zeroed in on the carriage at the top of the vehicle and "Om Sai Om" written on its windscreen.

From the Dappar toll plaza, Inspector Arvind was successful in obtaining the entire registration number, DL4CAE-1449. Fortunately, the number was genuine. The raids were conducted and driver Jagdish Ram was apprehended on July 13, 2016. Later, Iqbal Ahmed and Mohammad Abid were also arrested from Ambala. It was found that they already had a criminal past.

According to the court findings, Ram, Ahmed and Abid came on the intervening night of July 3 and July 4, 2016, from Delhi but didn't attempt to enter the shop as it was raining. They stayed at a hotel in Dwara village. On the following night, after dropping Ahmed and Abid, Ram kept waited for them but he left later as they were taking time. After the murder and loot, Ahmed and Abid took an auto-rickshaw and reached the Kalka bus stand. Ahmed and Abid later took a bus from Kalka and met Ram at Ambala. From there, they left for Delhi. Auto-rickshaw driver Rana Sharma had identified the in the court. — TNS

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3omDQIk