2 more nominated in murder case of Cong councillor

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 7

Nearly one and half years after the murder of Congress councillor Gurdeep Pehalwan, the police on Saturday nominated two Batala-based criminals in the case.

The suspects have been identified as Varinder Singh, alias Fateh, of Guru Arjan Dev Nagar in Batala and Mandeep Singh, alias Toofan, of Sundar Nagar in Batala.

According to the police, they along with gangster Angrej Singh, who is currently lodged in the jail, and Rajat Malhotra, alias Karan Masti, had shot Pehalwan in June 2018 when he was working out in an ‘akhara’ (wrestling arena) in the Gole Bagh area.

“While Varinder has been arrested after bringing on production warrant from the Gurdaspur jail, Mandeep Singh is still absconding. Raids are on to nab him,” said Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill.

Their names cropped up during the interrogation of Angrej Singh, who was brought on production warrant from the Amritsar jail. He told the police that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria had made an Internet call from his mobile to them. He did not trust Angrej and Rajat for killing Gurdeep Pehalwan. Therefore, he sent Varinder and Mandeep for gunning him down.

On June 3, 2018, they came from Batala on a bus and met Angrej and Rajat near Fortis Hospital. Rajat handed over four weapons to them and they proceeded towards Gole Bagh where the Congress councillor was working out.

“After getting signals about the presence of Gurdeep Pehalwan in the ‘akhara’ from their two accomplices, Varinder, Mandeep and Anrej went inside while Rajat stood near bikes outside the ‘akhara. After pumping several bullets into the Congress councillors, they fled on their motorcycles,” said Dr Gill.

The police had booked eight persons, including gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Rajat and Angrej, for the Congress councillor’s murder.