The main accused in the murder cum armed burglary case reported from Nakraunda, Balawala in Dehradun is still at large though a year has passed since the crime was committed. The Police had earlier declared a reward of `20,000 for the arrest of Shamli (Uttar Pradesh) native Akram who has been absconding since the incident. A proposal has also been sent to the State Government for increasing the reward for his arrest to 50,000, said Raipur Police Station in-charge sub-inspector Abul Kalam on Monday. He averred that the police are working hard to arrest the absconder.
It will be recalled that the police had earlier raided Akram’s home but he was not there. Moreover, soon after the crime was committed, the setting up of a police post in Balawala area was announced by the State Government but it is yet to be established. Sources said that local residents including Gram Pradhan have not provided land to the local police for setting up of the police post due to which a vehicle is being used to operate a mobile police post. One sub-inspector and three policemen have been deputed to the police post in the area while efforts are being made to facilitate the required land in the area, added Kalam.
This incident had shocked the public and had also resulted in the transfer of the then Raipur police station in-charge.
With police facing flak from the people- the Chief Minister Harish Rawat had issued a deadline for State and district police to crack the case swiftly. The district police had formed several teams that were sent to various places including Western Uttar Pradesh. Police have arrested five accused-Nadim, Shahzad alias Yamin, Shazid alias Sonu, Shazid Pahalwan and Akhlaq- so far.
It is pertinent to mention here that last year six men had barged into the home of agriculture office SS Thapliyal at 4 am and had at gun point demanded gold ornaments and cash from the family members. One of the criminals had fired shots on Thapliyal’s 23-year- old Ankit when he resisted the criminals. Ankit had died on the spot. Four others including family members and a tenant were also injured after being hit with rods by the criminals. The criminals had decamped with gold ornaments and cash worth about `90, 000.