‘Spurned’, Tarn Taran law student shoots girl inside classroom, turns gun on self

A first-year law student in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district on Monday opened fire at his classmate inside the classroom after she allegedly spurned his advances and then turned the gun on himself, the police said.

Sandeep Kaur (20), a resident of Naushera Pannu village, died on the spot while Prince Raj Singh (21), who belonged to Mallia village in the district, is critically injured. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Tarn Tarn and then referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital in Amritsar. The accused allegedly used the revolver of his father, who has retired from the CRPF, in the crime.

The incident occurred at Punjab College of Law in Usman, about 10 km from Tarn Taran, triggering panic all around. The class was yet to start in the morning when it all happened, the police said.

The footage from a CCTV camera installed on the college premises showed Prince, Sandeep and another female student together in the classroom. A few other students could also be seen. The video showed Prince suddenly getting up from his desk and shooting Sandeep. He then shot himself in the head and fell on the floor.

The female student who was sitting with Sandeep got up and checked the victim, finding her motionless. A few students could be seen entering the classroom after hearing the gunshots, but ran out away after seeing Sandeep.

The girl’s family alleged that Prince was pressurising Sandeep to get married to him even as she was already engaged and her wedding was to be solemnised soon.

The victim belonged to a modest Scheduled Caste family and had six sisters and a brother. Her father had died due to electrocution in the Naushera Pannu grain market about two years ago.

Sandeep’s elder sister Sumanpreet Kaur alleged that Prince had been harassing the victim for long and even threatened to kill her if she complained to the college authorities. She also raised questions over the conduct of the college administration, asking how a student was allowed to enter a classroom with a weapon.

Sumanpreet, who too has studied law and practises in Tarn Taran, alleged that Prince would visit their house on one pretext or the other, something the family had objected to.

Sandeep’s mother Harjinder Kaur said she got a call from the school authorities, asking her to reach college immediately. “I was not told that she (Sandeep) was shot,” Harjinder told reporters, adding when she reached the college, she found her daughter lying motionless.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Waryam Singh of the Sarhali police station said a case had been registered against Prince under Section 103 of the BNS and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.