Kin booked for sheltering suspect in nagar kirtan celebratory firing case

Nine-year-old Parth, a child injured in celebratory gunfire during a nagar kirtan in Ludhiana, has been in a private hospital’s ICU for 18 days. His condition is critical and the accused, Sukhpal Singh, remains absconding.

In a fresh development, the police have registered a case against Sukhpal’s wife, Sukhwinder Kaur, son Prabhjeet Singh, brother-in-law Pragat Singh, and unidentified persons under Sections 249 (harboring offender) and 253 (harboring offender who has escaped from police custody) of the IPC. They are accused of aiding Sukhpal Singh in his escape, sheltering him, and encouraging him to flee the crime scene. The cops are conducting raids to arrest the accused.

Having spent all their money on treatment, the family now has nothing left to pay the hospital bill, which has already climbed up to Rs 8 lakh. The family has managed to deposit Rs 2 lakh. Some social organisations in the city have come forward to help the child and appealed the residents to donate money.

Harpreet Kaur, the child’s maternal grandmother, said that the bullet fractured the child’s thigh bone. “Parth’s condition is very critical. The doctor said the bullet passed through his leg, breaking his thigh bone. Parth is now in the ICU,” she said.

It is pertinent to mention here that on November 2, Parth had stepped out to pay obeisance at the nagar kirtan. His maternal grandmother, Harpreet Kaur, said, “I was going to pay obeisance at the nagar kirtan with my relatives when suddenly, Parth was shot in the thigh. He fell to the ground instantly. I asked many people for help, but no one came forward. Even the person who fired the shot turned away after seeing Parth covered in blood. It’s been 16 days since the incident.”