NRI done to death by auto driver

CHANDIGARH: A 51-year-old NRI was murdered while his 24-year-old son was injured by an auto-rickshaw driver outside a mall at the Industrial Area, Phase I, late last night following an altercation. The duo, residents of California, US, had come to India regarding a property dispute. The accused has been arrested by the police.

The accused, Shaved, alias Irshad, in police custody.

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 30

A 51-year-old NRI was murdered while his 24-year-old son was injured by an auto-rickshaw driver outside a mall at the Industrial Area, Phase I, late last night following an altercation. The duo, residents of California, US, had come to India regarding a property dispute. The accused has been arrested by the police.

The victim, identified as Jatinder Singh, and his son Rocky, alias Rourke, had arrived in the city a day before the incident took place. The duo was staying at a hotel in the Industrial Area, Phase II.

ASP (East) Parvinder Singh said the duo had yesterday gone to Sector 17 from where they took a cab and reached the mall to have dinner at around 10 pm. The duo also consumed alcohol at the restaurant. They came out of the mall at around midnight. “The NRIs came out of gate number 5 of the mall and started looking for an auto-rickshaw to reach the hotel,” the ASP said.

He said the father and son asked the auto driver, Shaved, alias Irshad, to drop them at the hotel. However, as the auto driver was having tea, he refused to go.

In his statement to the police, the driver claimed that the father and son abused him, which led to an altercation after which he pulled out a stick from his auto and hit both of them on the head and other body parts several times while they were walking ahead.

The police said an eyewitness informed the police about the incident.

The victim was rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, where doctors declared him brought dead.

The accused was arrested from his house in Colony No. 4. Sources said the postmortem report of the victim revealed that he died due to head injuries. The victim’s son suffered a fracture in his arm.

A case of murder has been registered at the Industrial Area police station.

Victim’s cousin suspects foul play in murder

According to Harnek Singh, deceased Jatinder Singh’s cousin, the father and son were staying in Phagwara at their village and were in the city on a fun visit.

Jatinder Singh had a property dispute in Phagwara. He had come to India to settle the property dispute. “We suspect that those who had a property dispute with them could have killed Jatinder,” alleged Harnek Singh. Jatinder is survived by his wife and three sons, including Rourke. The other two sons and his wife are in the US and will reach India next week.

Had gone to Elante Mall to eat pork, beef

The victim had gone to Elante Mall to eat pork and beef at a restaurant.

Jatinder’s son refused to take treatment

Rourke, who was also hit by the accused, refused to take treatment at the hospital. Rourke sustained injuries on his head and suffered a fracture on his arm. His kin, however, claimed that the police came in the way of getting him treated at the hospital.