Punjab: Youth shot dead in Abohar court parking lot, four arrested

Punjab: A young man with a criminal background was shot dead in the parking lot of the Abohar court complex on Thursday. In the evening, police said they had arrested the main suspect and three of his associates. According to reports, Akash alias Golu Pandit, son of Avinash Chander, priest of Abohar’s oldest Johri temple, and his friend Sonu had gone to the court complex in an SUV. As Golu approached the SUV after appearing in court in an Arms Act case, several armed men opened fire on him. Golu’s companions immediately rushed him to the Abohar Civil Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Sonu, who was with Golu, said that three to four young men fired five bullets at Golu and fled the scene. Strangely, the police had conducted a flag march in the city and villages yesterday to maintain law and order ahead of the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections on December 14. SSP Gurmeet Singh, who inspected the crime scene, said that forensic experts have collected evidence from the spot and the body has been kept in the mortuary. Members of the Abohar Bar Association met the SSP and demanded full-proof security at the court complex, which also houses the Superintendent of Police’s office, treasury office, and facilitation center. Ferozepur Range DIG Snehdeep Sharma, who arrived in Abohar in the afternoon, said that preliminary investigations point to a rivalry between the two groups. Acting on the statement of Golu’s father, the police have registered a case against Gagandeep Singh alias Gaggi Lahoria, a resident of Abohar, Gogi Bishnoi of Rajanwali, and Sahil Kharbas of Panjkosi village.
The DIG said that those involved in the crime will be brought to justice. At least seven suspects involved
Police claimed to have arrested the main suspect and three of his accomplices in Thursday’s shootout, which killed Golu Pandit, son of a Johri Temple priest. Police said Gagandeep Singh alias Gaggi Lahoria, a resident of Arya Nagar, and three of his associates were apprehended. The others include Vishu Nadha, Sushil Kumar alias Bhalu, and Aman alias Tota. Police said Sahil Kharbas of Panjkosi allegedly threatened to kill Golu over the phone. At least seven people, using a car and two bikes, arrived at the court complex parking lot before shooting Golu.