Srinagar: Police have arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the last month’s killing of a shopkeeper in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

A police officer said that Aquib Bashir and Auqib Shalla of Chesti Colony, Old Town Baramulla were arrested recently and one pistol was recovered by a team of SOG and police on their disclosure from an orchard in their native village.

The duo was involved in the killing of the civilian Sameer Ahmad Ahanger (25) son of Mohd Yousuf on June 30, he claimed.

The officer claimed that the duo confessed to the crime during interrogation at the JIC where they were shifted soon after the arrest.

Meanwhile, a police spokesman also confirmed the arrests of the duo and subsequently their involvement into the killing of the shopkeeper.

“A SIT headed by ASP Baramulla was assigned to carry out the investigation in the instant matter,” a police spokesman said in a statement. “A case under FIR No 112/2019 under relevant sections of law also stands registered in police station concerned and the investigation was initiated which led to the breakthrough into the case”.

“Incriminating materials including weapon of offence, a pistol used for the commission of crime was also recovered by police,” he said.

Another associate Uzair Amin who was part of this group and involved in the killing of shopkeeper Sameer Yousuf later joined Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, the spokesman said.

Sameer, a shopkeeper by profession was shot at on June 30 at Azad Gunj Baramulla and he succumbed on the next day (July 1).