Police say the September 14 killing of a 64-year-old shopkeeper was linked to a decades-old family feud
A murder in Punjab’s Hoshiarpur district has been linked by police to a revenge plot dating back more than four decades, with investigators alleging that a US-based non-resident Indian (NRI) arranged the killing of the son of a man convicted in a 1980 murder.
Gulzar Singh, 64, a shopkeeper from Urmur, was killed on September 14. According to police, he was attacked with sharp-edged weapons. His family and local residents had initially said he had no known enmity with anyone.
The investigation later led police to an alleged connection with a murder in Urmur in 1980. Tanda Deputy Superintendent of Police Davinder Singh Bajwa said on Wednesday that Gulzar was the son of Prahlad Singh, who was convicted in 1981 of killing Jaidev Singh and subsequently served a life sentence.
Police allege that Jagjit Singh, Jaidev’s brother, continued to harbour a grievance over the killing. Jagjit, now in his sixties and living in the United States, is accused of arranging Gulzar’s murder, investigators said.
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According to the police account, Jagjit allegedly approached Tejinder Singh Bittu of Gurala village, who is accused of arranging the contract killers
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Investigators say the attackers then targeted Gulzar in Urmur
Police have arrested Bittu and two other alleged accomplices, identified as Bheecha and Sahib Singh, both from Kathunangal. Another accused, Jatinder Singh, is under arrest in hospital, police said.
Police said they would use legal channels, including a Red Corner Notice, to pursue Jagjit Singh’s arrest and possible extradition from the US.
The allegations remain subject to further investigation and judicial proceedings.
