DSP Dalbir Singh murder case: Auto driver arrested by Punjab cops, service revolver recovered

Chandigarh: The Punjab on Thursday arrested an auto driver in connection with the murder case of Arjuna Awardee and DSP Dalbir Singh Deol, said officials. The Police recovered a 9mm service revolver from the possession of the accused, identified as Vijay Kumar, from Jalandhar.

Reacting to the arrest, Commissioner of Police Jalandhar Swapan Sharma said, “We have followed the sequence of CCTV footage and tracked auto driver Vijay Kumar. Police have also recovered a 9mm service revolver from the possession of the accused. Even on the murder day, police recovered an empty shell of 9mm and that was a concrete lead of the murder case.” 

Sharma further added that questioning of the auto driver is underway to verify other details related to the murder case. 

DSP Dalbir Singh murder case

The dead body of Punjab DSP and Arjuna Awardee Dalbir Singh Deol was found with multiple injuries abandoned near a canal on January 1. He went for New Year celebrations with his friends on Saturday evening but failed to return home, said his family members in the complaint.

Deol, 54, posted at Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters in Jalandhar, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. 

Police initiated the probe after the DSP's family lodged a complaint that he had gone for New Year celebrations with friends but failed to return home. The police reached the spot as soon as the incident was reported.

The body of the deceased was found near Basti Bawa Khel canal in Jalandhar on New Year's Day and the identity card recovered from the body helped in identifying the DSP. The DSP was found dead with an injury to his head and his service revolver was missing, said police officials. 

According to reports, Deol was dropped at a bus stand in Jalandhar from where he took an auto-rickshaw to visit a motor garage where his car was stationed for repair.

He returned in the same auto and then hailed another one at the bus stand. He asked the second auto driver to drop him at Khojewal village, but initially, the driver refused to cover the entire distance. DSP Dalbir convinced him to drop him midway. 

However, during the journey, the accused auto driver engaged in a heated argument with the DSP, ultimately snatching his service revolver and fatally shooting him on the spot, said officials. 

Deol was an Asian Games gold medallist in weightlifting and was later conferred the Arjuna Award in 2000.

(With inputs from reporter)