Canada-based NRI shot dead in Moga village

Thursday, 16/04/2015

http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx

MOGA: A Canada-based Punjabi non-resident Indian (NRI) was gunned down over a land dispute at Kaliye Wala village, 20 km from the district headquarters, late on Tuesday evening.

Police said 11 persons, including Bhola Singh, a police inspector posted at the Chandigarh crime branch, had been booked. No arrest has been made so far.

The deceased, identified as Harinder Singh Sran, 46, was a Canadian citizen living in Winnipeg province for the past 25 years. He was involved in a dispute with his sister-inlaw (brother’s wife) Baljinder Kaur over possession of land owned by him.

Villagers said Sran had arrived in India on April 2 for harvesting of the wheat crop, which he had got sown on his land with the help of his relatives.

“As the crop was ready to be harvested, he had sought police protection in anticipation of an attack from his rivals,” the villagers added. Jatinder Singh Khaira, senior superintendent of police (SSP), said, “After receiving a complaint from Sran, we sent police personnel to Kaliye Wala village. They visited the spot, but did not find anything suspicious.”

Guljinder Pal Singh, station house officer (SHO), Moga Sadar, said, “When Sran was getting the crop harvested, his sisterin-law reached the spot along with Kuldeep Singh and Kulveer Singh. After a heated exchange, they opened fire at the NRI, who died on the spot after being hit by a bullet on the forehead. A labourer, Salim, of Daudhar Sharki village was injured in the attack.”

Senior police officials rushed to the spot and a case of murder was registered against the accused.

According to villagers, Baljinder had managed to get the mutation of the land in her name by forging documents in connivance with revenue officials and passing someone off as Sran.

Harinder had lodged a complaint against the accused at the NRI police station here. After an inquiry, police had concluded that the land belonged to the NRI.

A case has been registered against Kulveer Singh, Kuldeep Singh, Baljinder Kaur, all residents of Kaliye Wala village, Bhola Singh, Rajinder Singh and Chet Singh, residents of Behrampur in Rupnagar district, and five unidentified people under sections 302, 148, 149 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act at Moga Sadar police station.

The SSP said, “Further investigation is underway. If any cop is found guilty, action will be taken accordingly.”