Banga youth shot dead in US had plans to visit home in January
BANGA (SBS NAGAR): Dreamt to become a lawyer, Dharmpreet Singh Jassar, 21, of Khothra village in Banga subdivision who was shot dead in California, had a plan to visit the hometown in January after completing his education there.
His relatives, who are in shock told that Singh was the only son of the family, told that he was also supposed to take reins of the family transport business into his hands but the destiny had its own plans.
Dharmpreet hadmovedtothe USA for pursuing his law degree in February 2015 after the family spent ₹8 lakh. His family had high hopes that the victim would come back in three years and would help in the family transport business.
He stayed with his paternal grandparents who had settled there some years ago.
He worked as a store clerk at a grocery store at a petrol pump in Madera city, his family here said.
Dharmpreet was shot by four assistants, who came to loot the store in Madera city, California on Tuesday night, local time.
His parents, twin sisters and the rest of the family came to know about his death on Wednesday morning when his grandfather, Bhag Singh, called up. A pall of gloom descended in the village.
On Thursday, all villagers made a beeline for the victim’s houseandshared grievewith the family.
Jagdeep Singh Jasser, an uncle of the deceased, said that his a Punjabi-origin youth, identified as Armitraj Singh Athwal, has been arrested by the US police for his murder and other three were also identified.
“This was a very unfortunate incident. A few days back, we were so excited that we will see our son after three years of gap in January. But destiny had planned something else,” said inconsolable Jagdeep.
He said that the postmortem examination will be done Thursday evening, thereafter we will decide about his cremation to be done in the US or if the body shall be brought to India.
MINISTRY EXTENDS HELP TO FAMILY IN US
Following media reports, chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh requested minister external affairs Sushma Swaraj on Twitter stating, “Shocked at the gruesome killing of Nawanshahr’s Dharampreet Singh in California. @SushmaSwaraj Ji, request to you to take up the issue at highest levels with US authorities to ensure justice for the family.”
Jagdeep said family members informed us that representative of the ministry in the USA also approached them to extend required assistance.
Reacting on the case, Swaraj tweeted, “I have received a detailed report on the unfortunate death of an Indian student Dharampreet Jassar in California. It was a case of armed robbery of a gas station in which the robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin. We are following up further investigation by the police and will extend all help to the family of the deceased.”
A PUNJABIORIGIN YOUTH, ARMITRAJ SINGH ATHWAL, HAS BEEN ARRESTED BY THE POLICE IN US AND OTHER THREE WERE ALSO IDENTIFIED, SAYS FAMILY