Threatened by his teacher’s kin over alleged affair, youth jumps into canal

Lovleen Bains

Sahnewal, July 19

Karanpreet Singh, a 20-year-old youth, who had completed his senior secondary education at Government Senior Secondary School at Jatana village, jumped into the Sirhind canal last evening. It is alleged that he took the extreme step after being threatened by the family of a school teacher with whom he was allegedly having an affair. The police are searching for the body, though no FIR has been registered.

Karanpreet’s father Randhir Singh told this correspondent that his son had been upset for three days.

Randhir Singh said, “We noticed the change in his behaviour because he was regularly receiving threats from the teacher’s husband and brother-in-law, whose chats, which she had downloaded on her laptop, were monitored by the two.” The grieving father stated that Karanpreet left home last evening but did not return.

Karanpreet’s friend Lovepreet Singh said that when they were returning home on a motorcycle, Karanpreet asked him to stop near the canal. Sensing trouble, Lovepreet refused to stop but Karanpreet hopped off the moving bike and jumped into the canal. Lovepreet stated that his friend was in a state of terror because he was regularly receiving threats to life from the teacher’s family.

“They threatened to not only kill him, but also to reveal the ‘truth’ about the affair to the entire village and abuse his family. I think he was all consumed by the threats, and thus decided to end his life,” he added.

Jaspal Singh, Katani Kalan chowki in-charge, stated that the police had been searching for the body since Thursday. Koom Kalan SHO Inspector Kulbir Singh stated that a case would be registered as soon as Karanpreet’s family is ready to have its statement recorded.

The family is still in shock and wishes that the case be registered only after their son’s whereabouts are confirmed.

Meanwhile, the teacher has gone missing from the school. According to the school in-charge, the teacher was sent on an errand by the school to Ludhiana, but refused to show the duty register confirming the same.