Councillor’s son plotted attack on BJP man: Cops

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana July 24

The police on Tuesday claimed that Jatinderpal Singh Sunny, son of Congress councillor Gurdeep Singh Neetu, had confessed to his involvement in the attack on slain BJP worker Rinkal Khera.

Ludhiana CIA chief Harpal Singh said during questioning, Sunny told them that he along with his friend Sunny Nai and their hired goons had attacked Khera with the intention of injuring him, but not killing.

Sunny had hatched the conspiracy to attack Khera owing to political rivalry, he claimed.

The officer said the accused told them that they did not want to kill the victim, but he accidentally sustained a head injury, which led to his death. The accused had also confessed to have paid money to goons after the attack, he said.

Meanwhile, the deceased’s family refused the postmortem examination till the councillor was not arrested. Sunny has already been arrested, while Neetu, who was booked on criminal conspiracy charge, is reportedly evading arrest. The six hired assailants are also absconding.

Mani Khera, victim’s brother, said they had held a protest in Patiala on Monday. “We had lifted the dharna on the assurance of the Patiala SSP that the accused would be arrested by Tuesday evening. Now, we have decided to move to Chandigarh to protest outside the CM’s house.” He said they would demand an inquiry into the case from an independent agency.

Sources said the Congress was also planning to remove Neetu from the party. Sunny is already facing some criminal cases and even the deceased was facing five cases, including that of attempt to murder, they said.