Man killed, gangster at large

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 17

A youth, identified as Sukhraj Singh (22) of Bhullar village, located at the Chogawan-Ajnala road, was shot at by a notorious criminal and his accomplices here on Sunday.

He succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital on Monday. The police have booked the prime accused, Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, said to be a gangster, and six others. No arrest has been made so far as the accused are on the run.

An old dispute is stated to be the reason behind the murder. The deceased will be cremated after a postmortem examination on Tuesday.

Ironically, Gopi is wanted in a number of criminal cases and he is roaming freely in the rural belt and other parts of the city.

Others, who have been booked, are Gopi’s brother Gurbir Singh, Sukhman Singh, Binder Singh, Major Singh and two unknown youths.

Kashmir Singh, father of the deceased, stated to the police that at around 8.15 am on Sunday, Sukhraj, along with his friend Avtar Singh, was standing at the village chowk when a car turned up. Gopi pumped bullets into Sukhraj and fled away. Sukhraj sustained bullet injuries on his thigh, lower abdomen and arm. He was rushed to a private hospital in Amritsar where he died on Monday afternoon.

Gopi’s family hails from Mahal village. Several years ago, the family procured agricultural land in Bhullar village, said the family members of the deceased.

Parampal Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Amritsar rural, said the suspects had been booked for murder, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and under the Arms Act. Raids are on to nab them. Gopi is facing over a dozen cases of attempt to murder and other crimes in the city.

Who’s Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi?

• Said to be a gangster, he is wanted in several cases. He is roaming freely across Amritsar. 
• He, along with accomplices, shot dead 22-year-old Sukhraj Singh of Bhullar village. 
• Others, who have been booked, are Gopi’s brother Gurbir Singh, Sukhman Singh, Binder Singh, Major Singh and two unknown youths.