Villager beaten to death at home on Lohri night

A 45-year-old resident of Shampur village was beaten to death at his home by four assailants allegedly over a financial dispute around 11 pm on Lohri night.

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Baljinder Puri, an agriculturist, sustained chest injuries and was rushed to GMCH, Sector 32, in Chandigarh, where doctors declared him dead. He is survived by his wife and three children.

Around 10 pm, one of the assailants, Narinder came outside Baljinder’s house and started playing loud music on his tractor. As he did not relent despite Baljinder’s objection, the latter called up the village sarpanch. After sometime, the music system developed a snag and the assailant arranged another tractor and continued playing music.

Later, the sarpanch reached the spot and tried to resolve the matter. In the meantime, Narinder reportedly called Shampur residents Inderpreet Singh, Sachin, Prajwal and Jaswinder Puri. All of them reportedly attacked the victim inside the house. After Baljinder fell unconscious, they fled the spot. On the statement of deceased’s brother Rampal Puri, a case under Section 103 (2) of the BNS has been registered at the Sohana police station.

DSP City-2 Harsimran Singh Bal said, “The suspect claims that there was a property-related financial dispute with the deceased. The altercation began over playing loud music outside house. Suspect Narinder, 23, has been arrested. He will be produced in the court on Wednesday.”

The police have booked former sarpanch Inderjeet, a resident of Shampur, his son Sachin, Inderjeet’s nephew Prajwal, Jaswinder Puri and Narinder Puri for the assault.