Ludhaina Fake Encounter: Media report hints at Political rivalry, AAP-Badal Dal angle

Ludhiana, Punjab: A detailed report by Mohit Khana, The Tribune journalist, says: [t]he cold-blooded gunning down of two young brothers, Harinder Singh and Jatinder Singh, allegedly by an Akali (Badal Dal) leader in connivance with a police party yesterday (Sept. 27) at Jamalpur near Ludhiana was reportedly a case of political rivalry. Hailing from Bhopur village near Machhiwara, the youths were active supporters of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). They belonged to a poor Dalit family and were popular kabaddi players.

Residents of Bhopur and other villages blocked the Ludhiana-Chandigarh highway while placing the bodies first on Neelon Bridge and later on the road in Samrala.

They were demanding immediate arrest of all those named in the FIR, including Akali leader Gurjeet Singh from Tekhran village near Machhiwara, head constable Yadwinder Singh, who led the police party, and home guards Ajit Singh and Baldev Singh. Gurjeet’s wife Rajwinder Kaur is the village sarpanch. All the accused have been remanded in police custody.

The brothers were wanted in an attempt to murder case. Top police officials first tried to show it as a police encounter, but later had to admit that it was a murder.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has ordered a magisterial probe into the incident. Satpal Singh, father of the victims, said, “It was not a police encounter, but cold-blooded murders. We are Dalits and Gurjeet Singh is a landlord and a SAD leader. My sons paid the price for not submitting to his whims.”

CASE INVESTIGATION UPDATE:

Ludhiana Fake Encounter: Deceased brothers were shot in heads from close proximity by Badal Dal leader Gurjit Singh

A former sarpanch of Kubey village, Jaswant Singh, alleged that political rivalry led to the killings. “The victims were supporting AAP MP Harjinder Singh Khalsa. Both brothers were kabaddi players and Gurjeet Singh was jealous of their popularity. First he got them implicated in a false case and then got them murdered with the help of the police,” he said.

Gurmeet Kaur, victims’ mother, said, “My sons were unarmed. They were killed ruthlessly.” She alleged Gurjeet enjoyed the backing of a former Akali MLA Jagjeevan Singh Khernia.

Kherian denied the allegation: “The Congress is playing petty politics to drag my name in the controversy. I had tried to strike a compromise between the two groups.”

After the post mortem, the bodies were cremated at their native village. A large number of people from Bhopur and surrounding villages attended the cremation held amid tight security.

Security was beefed up in neighbouring Tekhran village following inputs that supporters of the two youths could attack the house of SAD leader Gurjeet Singh.

Recent Update/s on this issue:

Ludhiana Fake encounter killings: Khanna SSP suspended, 4 other cops dismissed

Ludhiana fake encounter killings – Who is SAD (Badal) leader Gurjit Singh Machhiwara?

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to hold state-wide protests against fake encounter killings of 2 AAP activists