Farmer done to death, servant missing

Tribune News Service
Mohali, July 22

A 65-year-old person was murdered at his residence in Patto here. The victim, Surinder Singh, a farmer, was hit with a wooden log on his head, which proved fatal, said the police. The police suspect the crime was committed by the victim’s migrant servant, Chhotu, who is missing from the house. The blood-stained wooden log has been recovered from the house.

Inspector Manphul Singh, SHO of the Sohana police station, said an amount of Rs 26,000 was also missing from the house. “Apparently, the servant took the amount after murdering Surinder,” said the SHO.

He said Surinder had brought Chhotu from Ambala yesterday. “The victim withdrew Rs 26,000 from an ATM in front of Chhotu and put it in a cupboard of his room. Surinder slept in the courtyard last night and his body was found lying on the cot there. It seems he saw the servant committing the theft after which Chhotu murdered him,” said Inspector Manphul Singh. 

The matter came to light when the victim’s nephew found the main door of the house bolted from outside. When he opened it, he saw the body of his uncle. 

Inspector Manphul Singh said nobody in the house was aware of Chhotu’s identity and address. “We have registered a case under Sections 302 and 380 of the IPC against Chhotu at the Sohana police station on a complaint of the victim’s son, Harinder Singh.