A shocking incident of familial violence has rocked a village in Punjab's Moga district, where a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) settled in California, USA, allegedly shot his own nephew dead over a long-standing land dispute. The accused, identified as Bahadur Singh, is in his seventies and had returned to India about a month ago.
The Fatal Confrontation on Disputed Land
The tragic event unfolded on Saturday in Machhike village, located in the Nihal Singh Wala subdivision. According to police reports, the dispute centered on nearly 30 acres of land out of a total family holding of about 100 acres. The conflict intensified after the death of Bahadur Singh's younger brother, Balwinder Singh, who was the father of the victim, Navdeep Singh, around two years ago.
Navdeep's wife, Gurpreet Kaur, informed the police that when she and her husband arrived at the disputed farmland, Bahadur Singh and his wife, Joginder Kaur, were already present and were allegedly ploughing the crop. A heated argument erupted when Navdeep objected to their actions. The situation escalated rapidly, leading Bahadur Singh to pull out his licensed .32-bore weapon.
Cold-Blooded Shooting and Gruesome Escape Attempt
Assistant Sub-Inspector Jaswant Singh, in charge of the Bilaspur police post, provided chilling details. "Bahadur Singh opened fire with his licensed weapon. He fired twice, and one of the bullets hit Navdeep’s head, and he died on the spot," the ASI stated. In a horrific turn of events, the accused then allegedly attempted to flee the scene in his four-wheeler by running over his nephew's body.
The police were promptly alerted, and Bahadur Singh was arrested from the scene. An FIR has been registered against him and his wife at the Nihal Singh Wala police station. The charges are severe, including murder under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Arms Act.
A Family Torn Apart by Property
Investigations reveal a sad tale of a family torn apart by property. Bahadur Singh, who has five children, had been settled in the United States for decades. The shared 100-acre land in the village became a point of contention following his brother's accidental death. The unresolved dispute over the 30-acre portion festered for two years, ultimately culminating in Saturday's deadly violence that claimed the life of Navdeep Singh, a man in his thirties.
The Moga police have taken the accused into custody, and the investigation is ongoing. This incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, highlighting the extreme and tragic consequences that land disputes can have, even within families.
