Truck driver shot dead in Bathinda

BATHINDA: The driver of an onion-laden truck was shot dead on Tuesday morning by unidentified persons on Bathinda–Badal village road.

The truck which was laden with 30 tonne onion from Nashik was coming towards Bathinda when some unidentified persons intercepted the truck at about 3 am at Ladli Dhi Chowk. They shot dead the 25-year-old driver Banwari Lal who hailed from Sri Ganganagar district in Rajasthan.

Truck owner Binder Singh of Handiaya said he was fast asleep in the truck when the driver tried to wake him up, and alerted him that some people may be trying to loot them. “Before I could make sense of what he was saying, some persons shot the driver. The attackers ran away when I began shouting for help.”

The driver was taken to civil hospital where he was declared brought dead, he added.

Station house officer, Canal Colony police station, inspector Rajinderpal Singh said that in his statement to the police, the truck owner did not mention that the attack was related with an attempt to loot the onion stock. He said the motive of the attack is still being ascertained by the police

A case under Section 302 (murder) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of IPC and under Arms Act has been registered against unknown persons.

Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh said the incident did not seem like an attempt to loot the truck, as the onion stock was still in the truck. However, he said investigation is underway and the police will soon find the motive to kill the truck driver.

THE TRUCK WITH 30 MT ONION FROM NASHIK WAS COMING TOWARDS BATHINDA WHEN IT WAS INTERCEPTED BY SOME UNIDENTIFIED PERSONS