Vinod Kumar, a “habitual offender” lynched by a suspected angry mob on suspicion of supplying drugs at Bhagi Wander village on Thursday, was released on bail just five days ago.
Vinod, alias Monu Arora, faced two cases of drug peddling after recovery of 5 grams of heroin from his possession on March 3 last year and 250-gram narcotic powder on March 22 this year. He also faced three other cases, one each for rape, theft and under the Excise Act.
Countering the allegation of Bhagi Wander village residents that cops had not acted against Vinod, superintendent of police (SP, headquarters) Bhupinder Singh said the victim was released on bail on May 8, but being a habitual offender he was rearrested, and later released on June 3.
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Meanwhile, the police handed over Vinod’s body to his family after the postmortem at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, where he succumbed to injuries on Thursday evening.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the police handed over Vinod’s body to his family after the postmortem at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital in Faridkot, where he succumbed to injuries on Thursday evening.
{{/usCountry}}The victim’s sister-in-law Khushpreet Kaur alleged he was picked by Bhagi Wander village sarpanch’s son from their house in Talwandi Sabo and taken to the village where he was murdered.
The family, hailed from the same village, but was forced out allegedly for being involved in drug peddling. Vinod’s father, Vijay, is undergoing trial in a drugs case. Waiting for Vijay to come out of jail on parole, Khushpreet said the family will not cremate Vinod’s body until the accused are named in the FIR registered against unknown persons.
Talwandi Sabo deputy superintendent of police Barinder Singh said they received no formal complaint from Vinod’s family, and his statement could not be recorded while he was undergoing treatment. He said the villagers are also keeping mum on the issue.