Mukesh Kumar was arrested in Muktsar following clues provided by some of those interrogated in connection with the recovery of bodies from an abandoned mill owned by senior Congress leader and former MP Jagmeet Brar.
Kumar, whose family actually hails from Uttar Pradesh, was born and brought up in Punjab, Senior Superintendent of Police (Muktsar) G Nageshwar Rao told PTI. Kumar was working as a palledar (labourer).
The bodies were found when a police team sent to the area near the mill to set up a post ahead of the 'Maghi Mela' on January 13 detected a foul smell emanating from the mill.
Kumar, during interrogation, admitted of raping and killing another girl who was also reported to be missing, Rao said adding the body was buried in the mill premises.
Married and with two children, the suspect admitted that he was a drug addict and that he was known to the families of four children who had gone missing in November 2006, the official said.
The suspect also revealed that seven cases were pending against him and he had also spent six years in jail, Rao said adding police was ascertaining the details of these cases.
The last rites of the four victims -- Ashki, Ratna, Satbir and Pooran -- were performed on Thursday.
A special cell headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police set up to investigate the case of missing children in 2006 had learnt that about 50 kids had gone missing out of which the bodies of four had been found and about the fifth Mukesh had given details, SSP added.
