4 dead in Batala land dispute as man kills 3, ends life

Gunman opens fire at uncle’s house after longstanding land dispute, kills aunt, cousin and friend before committing suicide.

A five-year-old land dispute left four people dead at a Batala village on Tuesday night. Police said the attacker’s parents died years ago, and he ironically lived and ate at the very household he targeted.

The 35-year-old accused shot dead his aunt, cousin and friend before turning the gun on himself at a village in Batala on Tuesday night, police said. (Representational photo)

The violence erupted in the absence of the uncle of the accused, with whom he had a longstanding property row and frequent financial dispute.

Accompanied by his friend, an ex-serviceman, the accused arrived at the house armed with a pistol. Following an argument, he opened fire on his aunt, hitting her in the chest and killing her instantly. He then turned the weapon on his 12-year-old cousin.

The accused and his friend returned to his house nearby when a brawl broke out between the two. The accused shot his friend in the chest.

His friend’s body was later recovered by police from bushes just outside the property.

The accused went to his kitchen and shot himself in the head. Police found the body on the kitchen floor with the weapon still in his hand.

Batala City DSP Sukhinder Singh arrived at the scene soon after and forensic teams spent the night processing the multiple crime scenes, while the bodies were moved to the Civil Hospital, Batala, mortuary for post-mortem examinations.

According to police sources, the brother of the accused lives abroad.

An FIR has been registered and additional police personnel remain deployed in the village to maintain order.