Army man shoots dead cousin, also in Army, over 'growing ties with brother's killer'

MEERUT: A 30-year-old man, Ankush Singh, was arrested in Saharanpur for allegedly murdering an Army naik, Vikrant Gujjar, 25, while two more accused -- Vishal Prakash and Suraj Gujjar (the victim's cousin and also an Army naik) -- are still absconding, police said on Sunday.
Vikrant was shot dead by the three men, including the Army naik, two days after testifying in a local court against an accused in his cousin's 2021 murder case.
Saharanpur (SP city), Vyom Bindal, said, "Vikrant was killed near his house in the district's Mudikhedi village on Wednesday evening. He had gone out with his nephew and didn't return home. The next morning, his bullet-ridden body was found about 300m from his house."
An FIR was registered against the three men under BNS section of murder, the SP added.
Police said that Ankush was held after a detailed probe. He told the cops that Suraj, an Army naik posted in Jammu, was upset that Vikrant recently grew closer to a man named Devendra -- the main accused in the 2021 murder of Vikrant's cousin, Rajat Gujjar.
In 2021, Rajat was stabbed to death by Devendra and his aides over a village dispute. Vikrant, who witnessed the killing, later became a key witness in the case. Suraj believed the murder happened due to Vikrant's "resentment". All the accused were sent to jail, and they got bail a few months ago. After his release, Devendra allegedly began reconnecting with Vikrant, which angered Suraj and he started plotting to kill his cousin.
Vikrant joined the Army in 2019 and was also posted in Jammu. He came home on a four-day leave to record his statement before the court. He is now survived by parents, younger brother and two unmarried sisters.