Shot at by neighbour, AISSF president Parminder Singh Dhingra dies in Jalandhar

Parminder Singh Dhingra, president of the All India Sikh Students’ Federation (AISSF) and lawyer, died after he was shot under mysterious circumstances at a neighbour’s house here on Tuesday.

While sources claimed he had gone to the neighbour’s house for personal reasons or related to the ongoing tension with the family, the police said the exact motive was unclear. The police said they were probing all angles — personal, property-related, or any other.

According to eyewitnesses and family members, Dhingra had entered the house and minutes later, a gunshot was heard. Dhingra was found lying in a pool of blood near the staircase with a bullet wound to his leg.

He had also sustained a serious head injury, reportedly sustained as he fell down the stairs after being shot at.

Later, police officials confirmed that the shooter was the neighbour’s son, a trained sports shooter. He allegedly fired from a pistol and the bullet struck Dhingra in the leg. Whether the shooting was deliberate or during a heated scuffle is part of the investigation.

Relatives and colleagues of Dhingra have alleged that he was still alive after being injured and could have survived had he received immediate medical attention. However, the police refuted the claim. “By the time the police reached the scene, he had succumbed to his injuries. That is why he was not taken to a hospital,” said a police officer.

The incident sparked outrage in the area. As the police were still conducting an investigation, a group of Dhingra’s supporters forcibly broke open the main gate of the house of the accused.

The situation became so volatile that the police took all three accused — a woman, her husband and their son — out of the house through a backdoor. Confirming the arrest of all three accused, Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur said an FIR under relevant sections would be lodged once family members record their statements.

“We received information around 3 pm, while the incident is believed to have occurred between 1.30 pm and 2 pm,” she said. She said initial medical findings suggested Dhingra’s death was not due to the gunshot alone, but it was due to a serious head injury, possibly sustained as he fell down after being struck by a bullet.

Punjab