Firing between two groups, 1 dies

One person died while his accomplice was injured in a clash between two groups at a petrol pump in Ghuman township of Sri Hargobindpur police station here on Monday night.

Batala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Suhail Qasim Mir said Gurpreet Singh, alias Gora, died when a group of people fired at him when he was sitting in a car. His accomplice, Baljinder Singh, alias Billa Mandiala, sustained serious injuries.

Police sources said Baljinder, who was driving, had parked their car outside a petrol pump when some people arrived in another car and started shooting. Gurpreet was sitting next to Baljinder in the car.

Nearly 20 rounds of fire were exchanged. An old enmity between the groups is said to be the motive behind the crime.

The Batala SSP said an injured Baljinder Singh drove his car to home in his native village Mandiala along with a profusely bleeding Gurpreet Singh. Some of his relatives tried to resuscitate Gurpreet but seeing that the injuries were serious in nature, they admitted him to a nearby private hospital where he died.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kakkar and SHO Bikram Singh immediately reached the scene of the incident.

Senior Superintendent of Police Qasim Mir said he had formed teams to identify and nab the assailants. “We have stumbled upon some clues and hope to arrest the accused soon,” he said.

Amritsar