Varanasi: Police on Tuesday worked out a murder case within 24 hours and arrested four persons. On Monday, Rajan (60) was shot dead in Chowk police station area. Those arrested were identified as Vishal Bharatiya, Vikas Vishwakarma, Sujit Valmiki and Krishna Valmiki. Bharatiya was main conspirator, while Vishwakarma did recce before the murder. Sujit and Krishna Valmiki shot Rajan dead. After the incident, all accused fled from the spot. Police said the murder was not over old enmity or financial dispute, but on suspicion of black magic. Police investigation found that main accused Vishal Bharatiya believed that his distant relative Rajan practised black magic and sorcery and was behind continuous deaths in his family. Bharatiya believed that if Rajan was eliminated, the crisis that had befallen his family would end. He planned the murder along with his associates. ACP Atul Anjan Tripathi said police obtained vital clues within six hours of the murder. Using evidence and local intelligence network, the police arrested all four accused within just 24 hours. During interrogation, Bharatiya initially claimed the spirit of his dead father had possessed him and motivated him to commit the murder, but during interrogation, admitted he fabricated this story to escape punishment. Police recovered the illegal weapon used for murder from the possession of the accused. Police said all four arrested accused are friends and two are residents of Manduadih area.
