2 held for youth's murder in Ludhiana, ASI faces music for failing to act on victim’s complaint

After several youths brutally shot dead a 25-year-old youth, Harjinder Singh, in Swatantar Nagar on Tibba Road on Friday, the Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed two suspects in the case. They were identified as Manjit Singh, alias Bobby, and Mohit. However, the key suspects were still at large.

Meanwhile, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Amrik Singh, posted at the Tibba police station, faced the music for failing to take action on the complaint of the victim who had been issued threats by the suspects. The deceased’s father during a protest had demanded action against the ASI, alleging that had the policeman acted, his son would not have been killed.

Sources said the ASI was sent to the Police Lines to appease the deceased’s family. The reason of the murder was the existing rivalry of Harjinder’s friend with the suspects. Even an attempt-to-murder case was also registered against members of the rival group in May this year and one of the suspects, Amandeep Kaku, was also arrested around a week ago. Harjinder had mediated in the case but the arrest of Amandeep enraged the opposite party as they suspected that the victim ensured his arrest, hence, they decided to take revenge.

Family members and residents of the area on Sunday had staged a massive protest near Basti Jodhewal Chowk on the Ludhiana-Delhi highway, demanding the immediate arrest of the suspects in the case. Harjinder was shot by the car-borne assailants. He sustained five bullet injuries and died while being taken to a hospital. The incident occurred when the youth was returning home after having a meal with his friends in the Sarabha Nagar area.

ADCP Jashandeep Singh said two suspects were arrested by the police and raids were being conducted at whereabouts of their accomplices. Soon, all suspects would be apprehended in the case.

When asked if any of the suspects also fled to Dubai as alleged by the family members of the deceased, the ADCP said there was no such information.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family has made serious allegations against a youth, a resident of Amritsar. Based on the allegations, the police contacted the Amritsar police for further investigation. The probe revealed that the youth against whom the allegations were levelled was at present staying in Dubai. Still, his role would be investigated, said a police official.

Suspects, deceased have criminal history: Cop

A police official said the suspects and the deceased had criminal background as cases were registered against them in the past. The assailants were into the drug business and they had some issue with the deceased, which led to his killing. The entire matter will be cleared after the arrest of the key suspects. Illegal weapons were reportedly used in the crime.