Youth, uncle beaten to death for ‘harassing’ girl at post-wedding bash

Victims assaulted with sticks, die on way to a hospital; Manpreet Singh, the bridegroom and host of the party, is among five people booked for murder; all accused are on the run

: A man in his early twenties and his uncle were beaten to death over their alleged unsolicited physical advances to a girl at a post-marriage dance party at Bhuse village near Chabhal, 25 km from here, late Thursday evening.

The deceased have been identified as Balwinder Singh (22) and his uncle Ranjodh Singh (32). They were beaten up with sticks and both died on way to a hospital. Manpreet Singh, the bridegroom and host of the party, is among the five people booked on the charge of murder.

As per the police, a function was going on at the house of Manpreet Singh, who had got married on March 15. As the guests were dancing, Balwinder and Ranjodh allegedly grabbed the hand of one of groom’s cousin sisters. As the girl didn’t like the gesture, her relatives, including the bridegroom, pitched in and started beating the duo.

The two were beaten up with a baton, leaving them badly injured. They died on way to a hospital.

Sarai Amanat Khan station house officer inspector Kanwalpreet Singh Randhawa said, “A dance party was going on in the house of bridegroom Manpreet Singh, where Ranjodh Singh and Balwinder were guests. As they held the hand of a girl, her relatives took offence to that. Balwinder and Ranjodh were beaten up badly and died.”

Balwinder is also a distant cousin of Manpreet.

The SHO said a murder case has been registered against Manpreet Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Gurpreet Singh and Jaswant Singh. Police said all the accused were absconding and raids are being conducted to nab them.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harjit Singh said, “As both sides are relatives, they faced no difficulty in identifying the accused, who will be nabbed by Saturday.”