Man murdered, SHO suspended

AMRITSAR: A man was hacked to death while three others sustained injuries when a group of armed persons led by notorious gangster Jasbir Singh attacked their home in the infamous Anngarh locality here this evening

Updated At : 06:06 AM Feb 26, 2015 IST

<p>ACP Bal Kishan Singla pacifies the family members of Harpal Singh, who was hacked to death by some armed persons in the Anngarh area</p>

PK Jaiswar

Tribune news service

Amritsar, February 25

A man was hacked to death while three others sustained injuries when a group of armed persons led by notorious gangster Jasbir Singh attacked their home in the infamous Anngarh locality here this evening.

The deceased was identified as Harpal Singh, alias Lala (30). The injured were taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where the condition of an elder brother of the deceased, Mangal Singh, is stated to be serious.The other injured persons are Baba Charan Nath, the deceased’s uncle, and another relative, Karan.

Police force from at least three police stations was deputed at the Jallianwala Bagh Memorial Civil Hospital where the body of the deceased was kept. People's tempers ran high as they accused the Gate Hakima police of freeing the culprit, Jasbir Singh, and his accomplices after they were held by the police.

Kirpal Singh, an eyewitness and a relative of the deceased, said Jasbir Singh along with Raja, Sagar, Bittu coach, Gobind and over 30 persons, who were armed with sharp-edged weapons, brutally attacked Harpal and others. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital where Harpal was declared dead while three other victims of the violence were referred to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

An inconsolable Rinki, wife of the deceased, said that had she not locked the door of the room, they would have killed her son and daughters also. A traumatised Radha, her daughter, said the armed persons were shouting to kill her father and others.

Senior police officials including Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (special) HS Brar, Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr BK Singla and ACP Amandeep Singh Brar had reached the spot. They were having a tough time in controlling the relatives of the deceased, who were raising slogans against the Police Department.

“The Gate Hakima police allowed Jasbir to flee from the police station after he was arrested by them. The policemen have deliberately done this to save him,” alleged another eyewitness. They demanded immediate arrest of the culprits. Sunny, another resident, threatened that they would not cremate the body of the deceased until the police arrested the culprits. They also demanded punitive action against the policemen who helped Jasbir to flee.

ADCP Brar and ACP Singla said that old enmity is believed to be the reason behind the incident as the two groups had clashed earlier also. But we are still in the process of registration of a case. On the accusations of the people against the Gate Hakima police officials, they said they were verifying the facts.

Meanwhile, ADCP Parampal said that SHO Amarjit Singh has been suspended following charges of negligence by the people. Even though it is learnt that Jasbir Singh also sustained injuries, the police failed to arrest him.