Four people, including the husband of a sarpanch belonging to the Congress, were killed after two groups allegedly opened fire at each other over a land dispute in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district on Monday.
One person was also injured in the clash that took place in Phulra village under Bhaini Mian Khan police station in Gurdaspur district.
The deceased were identified as Sukhraj Singh, 35, husband of woman sarpanch Lovely Devi; panchayat member Jaimal Singh, 45; and Nishan Singh, 33, who was Sukhraj’s cousin; besides Uminder Singh, a Hoshiarpur resident who was in the rival group. The injured person also belonged to the rival group, said police.
“Four persons died while one was injured in the incident,” said Gurdaspur senior superintendent of police Harjit Singh. The warring groups claimed right over a piece of land in neighbouring Golewal village in Dasuya in Hoshiarpur district, leading to the clash.
Nishan Singh’s family members said the trio were in a field belonging to Sukhraj on the bank of the Beas river when the other group arrived there in cars from Dasuya in Hoshiarpur. When Sukhraj and Jaimal resisted, the men opened fire at them. Sukhraj’s brother-in-law Lakhbir Singh claimed that the 35-year-old received multiple bullet injuries. All three were declared brought dead on being rushed to hospital.
While Sukhraj’s family claimed the main assailant is a forest department employee, police did not confirm it. “The investigation is still going on,” said assistant sub-inspector Kulwinder Singh.
{{/usCountry}}While Sukhraj’s family claimed the main assailant is a forest department employee, police did not confirm it. “The investigation is still going on,” said assistant sub-inspector Kulwinder Singh.
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