Youth killed, aide injured as armed assailants open fire near Mall Mandi

Armed assailants gunned down a youth while leaving another critically injured near Mall Mandi area here late on Wednesday night.

According to police, the deceased has been identified as Lavish alias Nimish, a resident of East Mohan Nagar, while his companion Harpreet Singh alias Ganja, sustained serious bullet injuries. Harpreet was immediately rushed to the hospital where his condition remains critical.

The police said Harpreet Singh, who has a criminal background, was being threatened by gangsters to withdraw from testifying in the murder case of his brother, Gurpreet Singh. Gurpreet was shot dead by his rivals in December last year.

Investigations revealed that the assailants had been threatening Harpreet to deter him from appearing as a key witness in the case.

On Wednesday night, the duo was travelling in a car towards Golden Avenue when five assailants on two motorcycles intercepted them near Mall Mandi. They opened indiscriminate fire leaving them critically wounded. Lavish died on way to the hospital.

“CCTV footage has been seized and the identification of assailants is underway,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dr Sheetal Singh. A case of murder and attempt to murder has been registered at Mohkampura police station against the five accused.

Police sources disclosed that Harpreet Singh, along with his brother, had earlier been convicted in 2012 in a murder case and was released from jail only three years ago. Gurpreet was gunned down in December allegedly by his rivals Sachin, Romi and Honey, who were later booked by the police.