A Station House Officer (SHO) was apparently shot dead in his car on Sunday after which the vehicle, with his body in it, was set on fire.
Police has taken his wife and son – who reported that he was missing – into custody for alleged involvement in the mysterious murder.
According to SHO Abdul Razzaq Gujjar’s wife Naseem and son, Gujjar left his house immediately after receiving an anonymous call around Sehri early Sunday morning and did not return. The family discovered his phone was powered off when they tried to contact him. Consequently, the matter was reported to the police after which a patrolling party of Sadar Sammudri Police found a burnt car near Satiana on Faisalabad Road. An examination of the vehicle revealed there was a burnt body in the car which was subsequently identified to be of inspector Abdul Razzaq Gujjar.
Gujjar, who was stationed at Dijkot Police Station, was married thrice but was never divorced. His third wife committed suicide around three months ago while he and his first wife separated after Gujjar married Naseem, his second wife, who he was now living with. Police believe it was her who killed him with the help of their son Ali Razzaq even though the mother and son were the first ones to report that Gujjar had gone missing.
Investigators said that Gujjar was apparently shot dead first and then his car was set ablaze with the body in it to conceal the murder. A special investigation team was constituted to further probe the case. The team arrested Naseem and her son while officials said circumstances reveal this was a planned murder.
City Police Officer (CPO) Faisalabad Rae Muhammad Tahir said that investigators have found vital information from Naseem and Ali which points towards their involvement in the murder. Officials said that the murder could be a result of a clash between the SHO and his wife that took place on Friday night. Their son Ali, with the help of his mother, may have intoxicated the inspector and then strangled him to death and to conceal the crime, staged a diversion by putting the bullet-hit body in Gujjar’s vehicle and setting it on fire in the wee hours of Sunday.
Police have also recorded the statement of Gujjar’s driver who claimed that the SHO’s wife and son are responsible. Gujjar was suspended by CPO Rae Tahir Husain on charges of corruption a week ago.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 8th, 2011.
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