Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, August 22
Two assailants shot dead a 50-year-old safai karamchari in the Dhandari area early morning today. The deceased has been identified as Mange Lal, a resident of Balmiki Colony situated at the back of the PAU campus in the Rishi Nagar area. The police have booked seven persons in the murder case.
The incident took place at 7:30 am when Mange Lal was going to the factory at Sangam Chowk where he worked. When he reached on Dhandari Bridge, two motorcycle-borne persons came close to him and fired two shots at him. The victim was shot in the stomach and he fell down.
Soon, commuters gathered on the spot. On being informed, a PCR team reached the spot.
According to police officials, the victim told the police officials that “men of Sunil” attacked him. Rajinder Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police (South), also reached the spot. The police said the victim died on the spot a few minutes after he was shot.
The victim was a complainant in the case pertaining to the murder of his son. Pinku, son of Mange Lal, was shot dead by the members of a gang in the Daba area in 2012. The police had booked Rakesh Kumar, alias Boxer, Deepak Kumar, alias Deepu, Sunny, alias Ladhu, Rinki, Jassa and Gagandeep in this regard. Sunil Pardhan from Shimlapuri was allegedly pressuring Mange Lal and his family to effect a compromise with the Pinku’s killers.
Rajinder Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police, said: “From preliminary investigation, we have found that certain accused in the Pinku murder case are out on bail. They can manage contract killing. Before his death, the victim named Sunil Pardhan before the PCR team. So, we have booked all six persons who are accused in the Pinku’s murder case and Sunil.”
The police found that shots were fired from a countrymade pistol. A case has been registered under sections 302, 34, 35, 54 of the Arms Act at the Focal Point police station.
Narinder Bhargav, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said: “We have launched a manhunt to nab the accused. The attackers would be identified soon”.