Slain gangster’s brother gunned down in Khanna

Gurminder Singh Grewal

Khanna, August 20

Two unidentified youths shot dead Manwinder Singh Mindi (43), brother of slain gangster Rupinder Singh Gandhi, at his village, Rasulra, here this morning.

Manwinder, a former sarpanch, was heading the “Gandhi Group” of suspected gangsters. He was overseeing work in a field near his house when the duo arrived and fired four shots at him. The assailants tried to flee on his motorcycle, but his cousin, Devinder Singh Nonu, chased them and rammed his Scorpio into the bike. However, they waylaid an Innova driver and sped away in the vehicle. Manwinder was rushed to Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana, where he succumbed to injuries.

Senior police officers, including Khanna SSP NS Mahal, visited the spot. Nakas were put up on all main roads of the police district. As per the cops, pistols of .32-bore and .30-bore were used by the duo.

Manwinder had reportedly visited Panjab University, Chandigarh, about three days ago in connection with the upcoming student body elections. He had also wished to contest the polls. His group has about 3 lakh members in the state. It has its wings in several schools and colleges.

Sources stated that a decade ago, Mindi had attacked a man accused of killing Rupinder in 2003. He remained in jail and was released later. He was elected Rasulra sarpanch unanimously in 2008. He lost the sarpanch’s election in 2013.

The SSP said Manwinder was facing about eight cases under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 452 (trespass) of the IPC, besides the Arms Act, and had been awarded sentence in one of them.

He added that Manwinder and his close aides were involved in a clash with a rival group at Fullanwal village near Ludhiana on Friday.

The deceased is survived by wife and two minor children. Manwinder and Rupinder’s brother Gurjap Singh had committed suicide in 2000.

Criminal or youth icon? 

• Manwinder’s brother Rupinder Singh Gandhi was a national-level footballer and alumnus of Panjab University
• Born on October 2 (Gandhi Jayanti), Rupinder was named by his family after the Father of the Nation
• At 22, he was elected sarpanch of Rasulra village. Considered an icon by local youths, he was murdered by rival gangsters in 2003
• A Punjabi movie based on his life, ‘Rupinder Gandhi   The Gangster…?’, was released in 2015
• Its sequel, ‘Rupinder Gandhi 2: The Robinhood’, is set to be released next month