Dera head, once a gangster, killed in Phagwara

Our Correspondent

Phagwara, July 3

Sukhdev Singh (46), alias Sai Sokhe Shah, head of Darbar Ichhadhari, was found murdered at his dera at Sangh Dhesian village, near Goraya, early this morning.

He was reportedly attacked with sharp -edged weapons and then strangled to death. His body was found on a bed outside a room at his dera.

Sarabjit Singh Rai, DSP, Phillaur, said the deceased was facing 11 different cases under the Arms Act and the NDPS Act, among others. He was also a member of the dreaded Bansi gang.

The DSP said the deceased had taken his share of property from his two brothers and was living alone. He was running Darbar Ichhadhari for a livelihood. The DSP said robbery did not seem to be the motive as cash box for offering was found intact.

Jarnail Singh, SHO, Goraya, said on a complaint lodged by Harpal Singh, a nephew of the deceased, the police had registered a case under Sections 302/34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sent the dead body for a post-mortem examination at the Civil Hospital.

He said forensic experts were summoned to examine the crime spot.

It was suspected that the deceased knew the killers and he resisted the attack as there were injury marks on his eyes and arms, he added.