Jalandhar: Youth hacked to death during religious event, 4 arrested

A youth was killed by assailants using sharp-edged weapons near Nagra railway crossing here in the wee hours today.

Three persons, including two women, were also injured due to indiscriminate gunshots fired by the assailants while they were trying to escape.

Deceased Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi (25), was putting up on rent in adjoining Nandanpur. He had gone to attend a religious event where an altercation broke out between him and five other youths. The assailants called in more persons and they attacked Gopi with sharp-edged weapons on his head. He died on the spot.

Another youth Rahul, who was with Gopi, escaped by managing to enter a house. The assailants came after him and fired at him too. Two women, who were watching the incident from the rooftop of the same house, also suffered gun wounds in their legs.

Gopi's mother Manjit Kaur alleged that her son was an innocent victim and had been brutally killed by some Nihangs. "The police must nab his murderers and bring them before her", she said. Victim Rahul's father Baldev said, "My son was attending the annual mela where the entry of visitors is not barred. But some visitors were carrying arms to which Gopi and Rahul objected. Arguments ensued after this and the matter was resolved. But later these youths came again with more accomplices with an intention to attack Gopi and Rahul. They succeeded in their plan to kill Gopi but Rahul managed to escape or else they would have killed him too".

SHO Division No. 1 Rakesh Kumar said four persons had been arrested in the case, including a Nihang. "We shall be able to disclose more details later", he said. There have been reports that the accused were already known to the victim and they had come to settle score with him.