Indian-origin man arrested for shooting Banga youth during robbery bid in US

Washington, November 16

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Police have arrested a 22-year-old Indian-origin man, who is believed to be one of the four suspects, who shot dead Dharampreet Singh Jasser, at a grocery store in the US state of California, according to a media report.

The 21-year-old Indian student, hailing from Khotran village in Banga, was shot dead allegedly by four armed robbers.

Armitraj Singh Athwal is believed to be one of the four robbers who fired multiple shots at Jasser.

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During a search of Athwal’s vehicle, the police discovered an unregistered .38-caliber revolver, a .22-caliber assault pistol that had been reported stolen, drugs and a blue bandana noticeable in the surveillance footage of the robbery at the store.

Athwal’s vehicle was also registered in another name.

Police said a Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy saw media coverage of the incident on Tuesday and recognised some similarities between the suspects from the incident and Athwal, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said.

Madera Sheriff’s detectives were contacted and determined Athwal is the likely suspect in the shooting.

A warrant has been obtained for the suspect and he will be transferred to the Madera Department of Corrections, the report said.

Athwal has been charged with murder and robbery.

Jasser was on duty at a grocery store next to a gas station in Fresno city in California on Tuesday night when four armed robbers, including an Indian-origin man, barged in to loot the store, local daily Fresnobee reported.

Jasser reportedly hid behind the cash counter but was shot by one of the four robbers while they were leaving the service station after looting cash and goods, the report said.

The incident was reported to the police yesterday when a customer who had stopped by to buy some goods, discovered Jasser’s body on the floor.

Commenting on the incident, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said she has received a detailed report on the “unfortunate death” of Jasper.

“It was a case of armed robbery of a gas station in which the robbers shot at Dharampreet who was working there. The police have arrested a suspect of Indian origin,” she tweeted.

“We are following up further investigation by the police and will extend all help to the family of the deceased,” the minister said.

Originally from Punjab, Jasser was a student of accounting and had gone to the US around three years ago on a student visa.

“Dharampreet was a completely innocent victim, just doing his job, when he was senselessly killed during this robbery,” Madera Sheriff Jay Varney said.

Detectives continue to search for other suspects and any further information related to this case, the Sheriff’s Office said. — Agencies