Jalandhar: Gangster Sonu Khatri, 5 others nominated in double murder case
Jalandhar, February 21
The Jalandhar police nominated six persons, including gangster Sonu Khatri, in a double murder case in which a mother-daughter duo was shot dead in Jalandhar last year. They have been nominated after revelations by Jassa Happowal, one of the suspects in the case.
Woman, daughter murdered on October 17
Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, SSP (Rural), Jalandhar, said Karanjit Singh, alias Jassa Happowal, a resident of Happowal, and Lovepreet Kaler, a resident of Gobindpur, at Banga in Nawanshahr, murdered Ranjit Kaur and her daughter Gurpreet Kaur at Aman Enclave, Bhojewal, on October 17 last year. The duo was shot dead and Jassa also set Ranjit’s body on fire.
The police said Happowal was brought for questioning recently. He was planning to commit several crimes, including murder, robbery and extortion.
Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar, SSP (Rural), Jalandhar, said Karanjit Singh, alias Jassa Happowal, a resident of Happowal, and Lovepreet Kaler, a resident of Gobindpur, at Banga in Nawanshahr, murdered Ranjit Kaur and her daughter Gurpreet Kaur at Aman Enclave, Bhojewal, on October 17 last year. The duo was shot dead and Jassa also set Ranjit’s body on fire.
The duo committed the crime on the orders of US-based Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassa Mohnowalia, a resident of Mohnowal village in Hoshiarpur and husband of Gurpreet Kaur. A case was registered under Sections 302, 201 and 120-B of the IPC and Sections 25, 54 and 29 of the Arms Act at the Patara police station here on October 17, 2023.
The Jalandhar police brought Happowal on production warrant from the Kapurthala jail on February 19 and obtained his three-day remand.
The Jalandhar SSP said those nominated in the case include Rajesh Kumar, alias Sonu Khatri, a resident of Rakra Dhahan village in Balachaur; Harpreet Singh, alias Mann, alias Babloo, a resident of Banga in Nawanshahr; Harkanwalpreet Singh, alias Yodha, a resident of Mukandpur in Nawanshahr; Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Jhingra village; Jaswant Singh alias Bant, a resident of Hakimpur; and Anoj Kumar, alias Anu, a resident of Jagatpur in Mukandpur.
The police said Sections 212 and 216 of the IPC had been added to the FIR and raids were being conducted to nab them.
The police said during questioning, Happowal revealed that before carrying out the crime, he, along with two associates Harpreet Singh, alias Mann, alias Babloo, and Harkanwalpreet Singh, alias Yodha, did the recce. Babloo arranged the vehicle for the recce. Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, a resident of Jhingra village, arranged a motorcycle to commit the crime and Jaswant Singh, alias Bant, and Anoj Kuamr, alias Anu, gave them shelter.
On the instructions of Mohnowalia, gangster Rajesh Kumar, alias Sonu Khatri, issued weapons to the two killers and Mohnowalia and Khatri also sent them money from time to time.
SSP (Rural) Mukhwinder Singh Bhullar said Karanjit Singh, alias Jassa Happowal, was the main shooter of gangster Sonu Khatri. He was in touch with him through social media apps. Happowal revealed that Sonu Khatri, along with gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, had plans to target members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who had killed Bhagwanpuria gang members at the Goindwal jail.
The police said Happowal also had plans to murder Gurinder Pehalwan of Happowal. He had an only enmity with Gurinder and tried to kill him thrice. Besides, he also planned more murders, robbery and extortion bids.