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Ludhiana: 40-year-old trader hacked to death, friend booked for murder
The victim’s close friend, Laalji, has been booked on charges of murder after the family alleged that he had visited Jatinder Rajput’s house on Friday night
A 40-year-old trader, who ran a clothes printing unit, was found murdered on the first floor of his two-storey house in Hargobind Nagar, Haibowal, on Saturday morning. He had sustained a deep wound to his neck, which police suspect was inflicted with a sharp-edged weapon.
The victim’s close friend, Laalji, has been booked on charges of murder after the family alleged that he had visited Jatinder Rajput’s house on Friday night. The two had reportedly consumed alcohol, following which the family suspects they may have quarrelled leading to the attack.
According to police, Jatinder ran the printing unit on the ground floor of the house and lived on the first floor. His brother, Sonu Rajput, found him lying in a pool of blood around 9 am when he went to meet him and alerted the police.
According to the family, Laalji had been a frequent visitor to Jatinder’s house and had known him since childhood, as both hailed from the same area in Bihar.
Jatinder’s workers told police that the two would often eat and drink together. Laalji, who was unemployed, had also been repeatedly encouraged by Jatinder to work at his clothes-printing unit. The family told police that an argument may have broken out between the duo after they consumed alcohol on Friday night, following which Jatinder was allegedly attacked.
Laalji is currently absconding, police said, adding that the sequence of events was yet to be established and the alleged quarrel remained part of the preliminary investigation.
Inspector Jasvir Singh, station house officer (SHO) of Haibowal police station, said, “Jatinder appeared to have been attacked on the neck with a sharp-edged weapon, possibly a knife. His family members have alleged that his close friend killed him. So far, we have neither found any indication that the victim had consumed alcohol at the spot nor recovered the weapon used in the murder.”
“The accused’s mobile phone is switched off. We are scanning CCTV footage from cameras installed in the area to reconstruct the movements of the victim and suspect and establish the possible route taken by Laalji after the incident,” the SHO said.
Teams from the Haibowal police station, CIA and forensic unit examined the crime scene for evidence.
“Jatinder’s body has been sent for post-mortem examination and a murder case has been registered against Laalji following the statement of Sonu Rajput. Police teams have also launched efforts to trace Laalji and establish his whereabouts,” the SHO added.
