3 cops booked for gunning down two brothers

Ludhiana, A Khanna police team allegedly gunned down two brothers wanted in an attempt to murder case at a house in Jamalpur area on the Chandigarh Road here today. Three policemen are among four persons booked in the case.

The deceased, Harinder Singh (25) and Jatinder Singh (24), were residents of Bhuapur village near Machhiwara. The relatives of the brothers, however, have alleged the deceased were killed in cold blood. They have demanded an inquiry into the case and action against the policemen.

A police party led by Machhiwara Station House Officer Manjinder Singh raided the house in Ahluwalia Colony. The brothers were residing along with three other youths in a rented accommodation for the last two months.

Gurjeet Singh, husband of the sarpanch of Bhuapur village, accompanied the police. An eyewitness said the policemen entered the building by scaling the wall of a neighbouring house. The youths reportedly tried to escape after finding the police at their door.

Police officials differed in their version of the sequence of events leading to the killing of the brothers.

Gurinder Singh Dhillon, Deputy Inspector General, Ludhiana Range, said, “The boys tried to snatch an AK-47 rifle from a policeman. At this, Gurjeet Singh fired thrice from his licensed pistol at Jatinder and Harinder. The brothers received five bullets and were killed on the spot”.

Dhillon said Gurjeet was accompanying the police to identify the brothers.

Pramod Ban, Commissioner of Police, however, had a different story to tell: “Preliminary investigations suggest Gurjeet only injured the boys while opening fire in the defence of the policemen. When the police left the house, some unidentified person killed the duo. The case is under investigation.”

Two of the other three youths at home were arrested by the police while one of them managed to escape.

The brothers were facing a case of attempt to murder in which victim Harnam Sikandar Singh alleged that they had attacked him with a sharp-edged weapon during a fair at Takhran village.

The police officials changed the story several times till the evening. Finally, a case of murder was registered against Gurjeet Singh and three policemen. The Station House Officer who led the raid has been sent to the Police Lines.

Police versions vary

The police officials have been unclear on how the brothers were killed
The DIG (Ludhiana Range) said they were gunned down by a sarpanch accompanying the police
The Ludhiana Commissioner of Police said some unknown person killed the duo after the police left their room

The brothers were wanted in a case of attempt to murder

Sarpanch’s husband booked

Gurjeet Singh, Bhuapur village sarpanch’s husband, accompanied the cops in the raid
The DIG (Ludhiana Range) said Gurjeet allegedly fired thrice at the duo after they tried to snatch an AK-47 from a policeman
He said Gurjeet, who has been booked, was there to identify the brothers