Bathinda: A local court in Bathinda has declared Amritpal Singh Mehro, the prime accused in the murder of social media influencer Kanchan Kumari alias Kamla Bhabhi, a proclaimed offender after he repeatedly failed to appear despite multiple summons.
According to police, Mehro fled the country soon after the murder and is believed to be hiding in the United Arab Emirates. He is alleged to be the leader of a radical outfit called ‘Kaum De Rakhe’.
Court records show that three other accused — Jaspreet Singh, Nimrajit Singh and Ranjit Singh — were named in the case. Jaspreet Singh and Nimrajit Singh were arrested earlier, while Ranjit Singh was taken into custody on February 6.
Police investigations revealed that Kanchan Kumari was strangled to death on the intervening night of June 9 and 10. Her body was later dumped in the parking area of Adesh Medical College and Hospital in the Bhucho area of Bathinda. The body was recovered the following day, leading to the registration of a murder case.
Bathinda Cantonment SHO Daljit Dhaliwal said the court’s order declaring Mehro a proclaimed offender would enable the police to initiate the process of issuing an Interpol Red Corner Notice against him. He added that state and central agencies were coordinating efforts to track and extradite the accused.
Investigators further claimed that Mehro escaped to Dubai via the Amritsar international airport, with co-accused Ranjit Singh allegedly playing a key role in facilitating his escape.
