MLA’s aide among 3 held for SAD worker’s murder

Police on Tuesday solved the high-profile murder case of an Akali worker and his aide with the arrest of three persons, including an associate of Congress’ Patti MLA Harminder Singh Gill.

Those arrested have been identified as Malkiat Singh, alias Laddu, of Patti, Paramjit Singh, alias Pumma, of Harike and Manpreet Singh, alias Manna, of Manochahal village. Laddu is Gill’s associate while Pamma is a commission agent at Patti grain market. Manna is also a close associate of criminal Preet Sekhon, who, according to police, had killed the victims.

Amandeep Singh alias Aman Fauji, who was close friend of former SAD minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon’s right hand Gurmukh Singh Ghulla, and his accomplice Prabhjit Singh of Patti, were shot dead by two carborne men when they were returning after paying obeisance at a tomb in Patti on May 27.

Aman and Prabhjit’s third accomplice Samsher Singh, alias Shera, received a bullet injury in his stomach. Police said gangster Lakhbir Singh, alias Landa, who is a resident of Harike and currently lives in Canada, had given Rs 6 lakh to Preet Sekhon for executing the crime. Landa had conspired the killing along with Laddu, who was appointed vicepresident of Majha Truck Union at Patti by the MLA in presence of Patti DSP Kuljinder Singh around a month ago.

Police said Laddu, a drug peddler, come into Landa’s contact through commission agent Pumma, who oversees Landa’s work in India. They said Laddu had been at loggerheads with Fauji over stacking of grains at Chuslewar wheat godown. SSP Dhruman H Nimbale said: “Someone conducted a recee of the spot on May 20 where the crime took place. CCTV footage led us to Laddu’s arrest. When Laddu was questioned, he disclosed that he planned to kill Fauji and his associates.”