Man killed in clash between two groups over old enmity

A man was killed over an old enmity at Boparai Khurd village here on late Monday night. The incident left several persons injured.

The Lopoke police have arrested one person, identified as Kashmir Singh, of the village while nearly a dozen persons were booked on charges of murder and attempt to murder and under the Arms act.

The deceased was identified as Hari Singh (65) while the injured included Harjinder Singh, Satwant Singh, Lakhbir Singh and Harpreet Singh.

On the statement of victim’s son Jasbir Singh, the police have booked Ranjit Singh, his brother Rachhpal Singh, Ajmer Singh, Gurtaz Singh, Bikramjit Singh, Ajit Singh, Kashmir Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Gurlal Singh and Gurkamal Singh, all residents of Boparai Khurd village. All the accused live in the neighbourhood of the victim.

In his complaint to the police, Jasbir stated that at around 9.30 pm on Monday, his two cousins, brother and father were sitting near a flour mill. They were to return home after closing the shop when the accused armed with blunt and sharp-edged weapons arrived on the scene and started abusing them. They shouted not to leave the victims alive.

He said the accused surrounded the victims and attacked them with sharp-edged weapons leaving his father Hari Singh dead on the spot and others injured. The accused fled the scene after the incident.

Satpal Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Lopoke police station, said one of the suspects was arrested while efforts were on to arrest the remaining accused. The body of the victim was handed over to the family after an autopsy yesterday.