Serving constable, contract killer held in ex-IAF officer’s murder; sons accused of hiring hitmen

Police on Thursday said they have identified two contract killers, including a serving constable, in the murder of a retired Indian Air Force officer who was shot dead near his house a day after Christmas, as per TOI. Investigators said the assailants were hired by the victim’s two sons following a family dispute over money and property.

The police told TOI, Naveen Kumar, a constable posted in Kaushambi district, and a 32-year-old man from Bulandshahr carried out the killing of Yogesh Kumar, who had retired as an assistant warrant officer from the Indian Air Force on July 31 last year. The Bulandshahr man has been arrested, while Naveen Kumar and the victim’s sons, Nitesh and Guddu, are absconding.

Police said the sons allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh to the arrested accused to execute the murder. The dispute centred on Kumar’s savings and his decision to sell the family house, which had led him to ask his sons to vacate the premises.


The arrested accused is a known criminal who was convicted as a juvenile in the 2008 Barari massacre case. Police said he lived in Ghaziabad and was Kumar’s neighbour in Loni, where the crime took place. He allegedly bore a personal grudge against Kumar due to past disputes, including one over feeding stray dogs.

Police said CCTV footage helped identify the accused. “We tracked the suspects using footage of a motorcycle used on the day of the crime, despite its number plate being removed,” a senior officer said.

Detailing the sequence of events, Loni ACP Siddharth Gautam said, “The accused hit Kumar with an iron rod. When he fell, Naveen Kumar shot him in the head, and the second accused fired another round.”

An FIR has been registered at Loni police station under murder charges and relevant sections of the Arms Act. Further investigation is underway to arrest the remaining accused and recover the weapon used in the crime, police said.