Ex-Akali sarpanch’s son shot dead in Batala, 5 cops held

ACCUSED GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT WITH VICTIM’S SISTER-IN-LAW, WHO CALLED HIM BUT THINGS GOT WORSE UPON HIS ARRIVAL

BATALA : A 28-year-old man was allegedly shot dead by six persons, including five cops, in Bhagwanpur village of Dera Baba Nanak subdivision in Gurdaspur on Sunday.

The deceased has been identified as Gurmej Singh of the same village. His father Amrik Singh is the village’s former sarpanch, who owes allegiance to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

According to police, the incident took place around 8pm when the accused got into an argument with Amrik Singh’s daughter-in-law Amanpreet Kaur, who is posted as an inspector in the excise department, over the passage of their two cars from a street in the village.

Kotli Surat Malhi SHO Avtar Singh said, “On her way home, she was stopped by the accused, who argued with her over the passage of their vehicles.” As per the villagers, Amanpreet called her brother-in-law Gurmej Singh there, but the situation became more tensed upon his arrival as the accused opened fire. “In the firing, Gurmej was killed on the spot,” said the SHO.

Batala SSP Rashpal Singh said they have arrested all six accused and recovered the weapon used in the crime. Five of the accused are policemen, while the sixth person is from Batala, the SSP revealed. He said two cops were deployed in Amritsar traffic police while one in the CM’s security wing. The other two had been deputed with an ADGP-rank police officer. Some of these cops are probational assistant sub-inspectors while others are constables.

Till the filing of this report, identity of the accused was not disclosed by the police. A case under IPC Section 302 (murder) has been registered.

Eyewitnesses said the accused, who were heavily drunk, were teasing the former sarpanch’s daughter-in-law. The accused were reportedly returning from a marriage function. The victim was a kabaddi player.