Haryana man held seven years after double murder

A proclaimed offender wanted in Haryana in a 2007 double murder case was arrested from Chandigarh, police said Thursday.

Ajay Singh, 32, had his name in the list of the most wanted by the Haryana Police. The director general of police (DGP) of Haryana has announced a reward of Rs.10,000 for his arrest.

Ajay, son of a former sarpanch (village head) Jagbir Singh of Rathiwas village, was accused in the double murder of Promod and Bhagirath from the same village.

Promod's father was sarpanch of Rathiwas during 2005, when the killings took place.

During a marriage ceremony in the village in June 2005, Ajay, with his family members and supporters, attacked Promod and his uncle Bhagirath with swords and rods.

Both were killed in the attack.

Twenty-three people were made accused in the case. A court had sentenced 14 people for life.

"Ajay absconded from the first day and was never arrested. The case was then handed over to Haryana Police's crime investigation agency," a senior police officer said.

Officials from the agency arrested Ajay from Sector 17B of Chandigarh where he was living with his family in a rented accomodation.

"He was working as a salesman at Tutela Computers there for the last two years," agency officer Rajender Singh said. He has given his permanent address in a colony in Faridabad.

Before that, he was living in various parts of Rajasthan with fake names which included 'Karan Singh', the officer said.

"We are doing further investigations," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Maheshwar Dayal said.