DGP prison murder: Domestic help attacked Lohia with sharp-edged weapon, tried to torch his body, says Dilbag Singh

Jammu: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh said the absconding domestic help attacked DGP prisons Hemant Kumar Lohia with a sharp-edged weapon and later tried to set his body ablaze.

“The accused has been aggressive. DGP prisons had a foot injury. Domestic help (Yasir Ahmad) while trying to massage the foot attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon and later tried to set his body ablaze,” Singh told reporters after visiting Lohia’s residence in Jammu.

DGP also ruled out the terror angle for a time being. However, he noted that the investigation will cover all angles. 

Singh said the accused locked the main door while family members tried hard to save DG Prisons. “It seems that DG Prisons succumbed to injuries,” he said.

 The DGP said that photographs of the murderer have been circulated in the media and a hunt has been launched to track him down. Chief Secretary A K Mehta also visited the residence of DG Prisons.

 Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir police said domestic help was involved in the murder of Lohia. The accused is on the run. 

Police also said that so far there is no apparent terror act while a thorough probe to cover all angles was on.

 Earlier ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh in a statement said that in the initial investigation into the incident of death of DG Prisons, HK  Lohia, it has come to fore that one domestic helper Yasir Ahmad, a resident of Ramban, is the main accused. 

 “Some CCTV footage collected from the incident site also shows the suspected accused running away after committing the crime,” police said.

Police said Yasir was working in the house for nearly six months.

 “Initial investigation reveals that he was quite aggressive in his behavior and was also under depression as per sources,” the statement said. “So far no terror act is apparent as per Initial investigation but a thorough probe is on to rule out any possibility. The weapon of offence has been seized besides some documentary evidence reflecting his mental state.”

 Police have also released the photographs of the accused stating that anyone who gets any information of him or he is seen anywhere, the information must be shared with the police. 

Body of Hemant Lohia was found under suspicious circumstances. 

“First Examination of the scene of crime reveals this as a suspected murder case. The domestic help with the officer is absconding. A search for him has started. Forensic teams and crime teams are on spot. The investigation process has begun. Senior officers are on spot,” police said.

 J&K police family expresses grief and deep sorrow over the death of the senior officer.

A 1992 batch IPS officer, Lohia had returned from central deputation in February this year.  A highly decorated officer, he was serving in BSF before returning to Jammu and Kashmir. Lohia was later promoted to DGP rank. He was posted as DGP prisons in August.

During his 30 years career, he served in different capacities in Jammu and Kashmir police. He was DIG central Kashmir at the height of militancy. He was instrumental in neutralizing the fidayeen attack at Lal Chowk in which he caught Pakistani militant alive. Later he served as DIG south Kashmir. He also had a stint in CID before proceeding on central deputation.