Ashwani Kumar was killed on December 28 last at Jagraon when he was on his way to Patiala from where he was to proceed to Mansa the next day to take charge on promotion as executive engineer.

According to Jatinder Aulakh, SSP, Jagraon police district, Gurpreet Singh, JE, had developed some differences with the then SDE Ashwani Kumar over money matters. He allegedly hired three persons to kill the SDE. A sum of Rs 1.50 lakh was said to have been paid to the killers. The police have also arrested Bhag Singh, a former sarpanch while two others were still absconding.

The delegation of the Panchayati Raj Engineers Association led by its president B.S.Dhillon had met Punjab DGP P.C.Dogra in January demanding speedy arrest of the accused. The Association had also alleged that the brother of the JE was a DSP posted in Moga district who was shielding the accused. Some influential politicians were also allegedly trying to scuttle the investigations.

Welcoming the unravelling of the mystery behind the murder, the association spokesman today said that Jagraon police's action had instilled confidence in the minds of the field staff of the department.