PESHAWAR: A Sikh youth, whose body was found in Chamkani area last Sunday, was killed by hitmen hired by his fiancée, claimed police.

A senior police official told Dawn that the four accused, including slain Pervinder Singh’s fiancée Prem Kumari and three hitmen hired by her had been taken into custody.

The body of the 25-year-old had a gunshot in head.

Mr Singh, who belonged to Chakesar area of Shangla district, had come to Peshawar as part of preparations for his imminent wedding.

The official said Prem Kumari wanted an end to her engagement with the deceased and she hired hitmen for Rs700,000 to kill her fiancé.

He said the accused called Mr Singh to Mardan and when he reached there, the hitmen kidnapped him before killing him.

The official said the accused shifted the body to Peshawar and dumped it in the limits of Chamkani police station.

The police also seized the weapon and vehicle used in the incident along with the sum paid to the hitmen.

Prem Kumari was produced in a court of Mardan on Thursday and the other accused on Friday.

According to family, the slain Sikh youth was doing business in Malaysia and had come to Pakistan around a month ago for marriage.

The family said an unidentified person called it last Sunday to disclose the dumping of Pervinder’s body in Chamkani area.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs tried to portray the murder as a targeted killing and urged the Pakistan government to punish perpetrators.

However, the Pakistani foreign affairs ministry rejected the allegation and said the Indian attempts to politicise the killing were mischievous and reprehensible.

“As this crime was reported, a case was registered immediately and a high-powered committee constituted to investigate the matter. The law will take its course and those responsible will be brought to justice,” it said in a statement.

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2020