Overview
- Unknown gunmen shot dead a Sikh caretaker couple inside a gurdwara in Mardan, killing 70-year-old Jagannath and his wife, in the incident on Wednesday.
- Police arrested the prime suspect, identified as Sher Shah, a serving constable, after special teams used technical probes to trace movements and locate him.
- Investigators have recovered a .30-bore pistol and a motorcycle believed to be used in the crime and have sent both items for forensic examination.
- A Joint Investigation Team that includes the Counter Terrorism Department is examining CCTV footage, mobile data and geo-fencing results while officials say the motive remains under inquiry.
- The attack exposed security flaws at the shrine — an assigned police guard was reportedly absent and the gurdwara's DVR was not working — prompting Sikh bodies and Indian politicians to demand a transparent, speedy probe and better protection for minorities.