Four Held, One Shot in Encounter Over Love-Angle Killing Near Mango Mazar
Key Points:
- Rahul Singh alias Rahul Baccha beaten to death near Gurudwara Road mazar on July 8
- SSP says love affair was the motive; four accused arrested within a day
- Main accused Sarbjeet Singh shot in leg after firing at police during weapon recovery
JAMSHEDPUR – East Singhbhum police have solved the murder of Rahul Singh, alias Rahul Baccha, within 24 hours of the crime, arresting four people including the main accused. Senior Superintendent of Police Dr. Ehtesham Waqarib announced the breakthrough at a press conference on Thursday.
According to the SSP, a love affair lay at the heart of the killing. Investigators identified Sarbjeet Singh, also known as Saheb Singh or Shabbe, as the principal accused. Three others were arrested alongside him: Saurabh Dutta, alias Bangali; Aftab Ali, alias Baba; and Amarjeet Prasad, alias Pandey.
The attack took place on the evening of July 8, around 7:30 pm, near a mazar on Gurudwara Road in the Mango police station area. Assailants allegedly struck Rahul Baccha with bricks, stones and a wooden log, killing him on the spot. His brother, Raja Kumar, subsequently lodged a murder case at Mango police station.
Given the seriousness of the crime, a Special Investigation Team was formed under an Additional Superintendent of Police, working under the oversight of the City SP. Officers relied on technical evidence and swift raids to track down and arrest all four accused.
During interrogation, Shabbe reportedly confessed to his role in the killing. He also disclosed that he had hidden a weapon in the Jawaharnagar forest line area. However, when police reached the spot on his instructions to recover the arms, Shabbe allegedly opened fire on the team using a concealed, loaded country-made pistol.
Police returned fire in self-defence, and a bullet struck Shabbe in the leg. He is currently undergoing treatment at MGM Hospital under police custody. Investigators recovered blood samples, blood-stained clothing, a brick, a stone, a piece of wood, a pair of slippers, blood-stained currency notes and a Splendor motorcycle from the crime scene.
The SSP further noted that Shabbe, Aftab Ali and Amarjeet Prasad already had multiple serious criminal cases registered against them. Meanwhile, the deceased, Rahul Baccha, also carried a criminal history that included cases of murder, robbery and offences under the Arms Act. Police said further legal proceedings in the case are underway.
The area around Jugsalai and neighbouring Mango localities have witnessed a string of violent crimes in recent months, prompting calls for tighter policing. Similar shootings elsewhere in the district have also kept local law enforcement on alert this year.
