Mob goes on rampage in Patiala over teen’s murder
Infuriated over the murder of 19-year-old man in a clash between two groups of alleged criminals on Friday night, family and supporters of the victim went on a rampage, damaging vehicles and shops, at the Fountain Chowk in Patiala on Saturday afternoon. The police resorted to a lathicharge to avert more damage.
It started the previous night after Paras Kumar of Dhiru Di Majri locality was brought to Government Rajindra Hospital after a sword pierced through his chest in a clash over old rivalry. As he was declared dead on arrival, his family and other relatives broke the windowpanes of the hospital and blocked the Patiala-Sangrur road.
It escalated on Saturday after a mob, including a large number of women, started gathering outside the hospital mortuary and sought to block traffic near Fountain Chowk, demanding immediate arrest of the murderers.
The situation took a turn when the mob went on random violence spree, and resorted to stone-pelting, shattering windowpanes of two buses and some cars parked on the roadside, besides damaging at least six shops. Some in the mob also attempted to set ablaze one of the buses but were overpowered by the police, who then used heavy force to disperse the crowd.
A complete shutdown of the market on Lower Mall Road was witnessed later, amid heavy police deployment.
The murder took place when a group led by Paras started a clash with Lovely Jaildar, who is now the main accused, in HR Enclave.
Police said their old enmity — in December last, the groups had hurled stones and glass bottles at each other outside the residence of Capt Amarinder Singh, who is now the chief minister — was reignited after they had an argument over phone on Friday evening.
Within hours, Paras with 7-8 accomplices went to HR Enclave, where Lovely lives in a rented accommodation, and attacked them with sharp-edged weapons. In retaliation, Paras was attacked. His accomplice Sagar, 19, suffered injuries too.
Those named in the murder case are Lovely and his accomplices Dhanna, Jassa and Ginda of Naina Aakat village; and Manjinder Singh of Bathoi Kalan village.
“Both groups have a criminal background and multiple cases of snatching and other offences are registered against them, including Paras and Lovely,” said superintendent of police Kesar Singh.
He said teams were formed to arrest the accused, and added that meetings with the victim’s family were on to pacify them. Meanwhile, the body was handed over to the family after post-mortem examination.
19YEAROLD PARAS WAS KILLED IN A CLASH BETWEEN TWO GROUPS OF ALLEGED CRIMINALS OVER ONGOING RIVALRY ON FRIDAY NIGHT