Uzbek woman shot at in Ludhiana by Faridkot-based friend over refusal to go on long drive

A 34-year-old Uzbek woman is fighting for life at a multispecialty hospital in Ludhiana after she was shot in the chest by her friend from Faridkot for refusing to go on a long drive a week ago.

The accused, Balwinder Singh, a resident of Harinder Nagar in Faridkot, and his accomplice from Mohalla Raghubir Park, Jassian Road, Ludhiana, have been arrested and sent to judicial remand.

The duo was booked under Sections 109, 3(5) and 351 (3) for alleged attempt to murder in connivance with several persons and criminal intimidation involving threat of death or grievous injury.

The police explained that the undue delay in registration of case and action against the accused was caused due to non-submission of statement by the victim as the doctors had not declared her fit for statement earlier.

Investigations revealed that a passerby had shifted the victim, Asligun Sparova, after she was shot by the accused near a hotel on Pakhowal road on December 11 afternoon.

The passerby informed the authorities at the hospital and the police that two unknown persons had fled from the scene following an altercation.

Subsequent investigations revealed that Sparova had been staying at a hotel at Daad village on Pakhowal Road for about six months, though she had been in India for about a year.

In her statement recorded before the police, led by SHO Sadar Jagdev Singh, Sparova alleged that Balwinder had visited her on the fateful day and asked her to accompany him and his friend for a long drive in his car.

On her refusal to his proposal, Balwinder Singh threatened her of dire consequences and shot her in the chest before fleeing from the scene.

While the victim is undergoing treatment at the hospital and both accused had been sent in judicial remand, the police are yet to ascertain the sequence of events leading to the crime and how the accused got acquainted to her.