Kabaddi player’s murder: Kin refuse cremation, want assailants arrested

A day after the murder of kabaddi player Tejpal (25) in Jagraon, the deceased’s family refused to cremate him until the assailants were arrested. Even the police officials continued to convince the family on Saturday to give permission for a post-mortem examination, but the family categorically refused.

An inconsolable mother of the deceased said that her son had no enmity with the assailants, still they shot him dead. He was their only support while her daughter lives abroad. “The accused who killed my son with a bullet should also face a bullet and meet the same fate. I want justice and only justice,” the wailing mother demanded.

A resident of Giddarwindi village, the kabaddi player was first brutally assaulted, which culminated into the fatal shooting that occurred near Dr Hari Singh Hans Maternity Hospital on Friday. The office of the SSP in the Ludhiana district is said to be in close proximity.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Ludhiana rural, Ankur Gupta said that immediately after the murder, three accused had been identified — Honey Rumi, his brother Kala Rumi, both residents of Rumi village, Gagan from Moga and two other nidentified accomplices. Separate teams have been formed, which were conducting raids at the suspects’ whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring today said that gang wars had already started in Punjab with gangs competing with each other to gain supremacy, while Punjab Police and the government were watching as silent spectators. Warring, who is also the local MP, met the bereaved family of the murdered kabbadi player here. The PCC president expressed sympathies with the bereaved family while assuring all help and support.

Rajnish Dhiman, district president of the BJP, Ludhiana, said that the law and order situation in Punjab had deteriorated since the AAP government came to power.

Dhiman criticised CM for the worsening law and order situation in the state.

Villagers said that Tejpal’s family was not financially sound. His father owned approximately six acres. Consequently, Tejpal chose animal husbandry as his career. He raised some animals at home and sold milk. On Friday, Tejpal had come to Jagraon to buy feed for his animals.

FB post claiming responsibility removed

A day after the murder of Tejpal, a Facebook account created in the name of Jassu Koom claimed responsibility of the murder. In the post, it stated, “I, Jassu Koom and my brother Brar Charik, take responsibility of the murder as we got Tejpal killed because of our old enmity with him.”

A few hours after this post went viral, it was deleted. SSP Ankur Gupta said that the post was fake as some criminal element by creating a fake FB account claimed responsibility of the murder with the sole motive of taking credit and earning name in the world of crime. The account had been created after the murder of Tejpal, which led to suspicion.