Shimla, June 16: In a major breakthrough, Himachal Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested two alleged professional shooters from Haryana for the sensational murder of school director Manisha Mittal inside the premises of Saraswati Paradise International Public School in Sanjauli Housing Colony, a crime that had sent shockwaves across Shimla.
The accused have been identified as Ashish Ahlawat (22), a resident of Dujana village in Jhajjar district, and Deepak alias Deepak Budhwar (25), a resident of Sunaria Khurd in Rohtak district. Both are stated to be history-sheeters with multiple criminal cases registered against them in Haryana.
Police said Ashish is facing an extortion case, while Deepak has been booked in several cases under the Arms Act, extortion and assault-related offences. Investigators believe both are professional shooters hired to execute the killing.
The murder of Manisha Mittal, director of Saraswati Paradise International Public School, had created panic and outrage in the city after she was shot dead within the school premises in broad daylight.
The brazen nature of the crime raised serious concerns over law and order and triggered an intensive manhunt by the police.
According to investigators, the shooters had carefully planned the operation and used virtual phone numbers to conceal their identities and movements.
The murder was allegedly carried out using a country-made pistol. After executing the crime, the accused managed to flee to Haryana in an attempt to evade arrest.
However, Himachal Police launched a multi-state operation and tracked down the suspects within just 38 hours of the murder. Technical surveillance, intelligence inputs and coordinated field operations helped investigators crack the case and arrest both accused.
The investigation is increasingly pointing towards a contract killing angle. Police are probing the possibility that the murder was linked to an ongoing property dispute involving the ownership and management of the school.
The probe gained further significance after a video recorded by Manisha Mittal before her death surfaced on social media. In the video, she had levelled serious allegations against her own sibling regarding the ownership dispute surrounding the institution.
Investigators are now examining whether individuals involved in the dispute played any role in the conspiracy behind the murder.
Police sources said the killing appeared to be a well-executed operation, suggesting careful planning and prior reconnaissance by the assailants. Investigators are now focusing on identifying those who allegedly hired the shooters and financed the operation.
Senior police officials described the arrests as a major achievement but maintained that the investigation remains underway. More arrests are likely as the conspiracy behind the murder is unravelled.
The focus now shifts to identifying the masterminds who allegedly orchestrated the killing from behind the scenes.
