A long-standing land dispute in a Haryana village turned fatal this week, resulting in the brutal murder of two men. The incident, which has sent shockwaves through the community, occurred in Pundri town of Kaithal district and is directly linked to a conflict over property that began more than a decade ago.
A Bloody Morning in Pundri Village
The violence erupted on the morning of Tuesday, March 19, 2024. According to police reports, the victims, identified as Ravinder Singh (45) and his nephew Gurpreet Singh (28), were attacked with sharp-edged weapons. The assailants, allegedly from the opposing party in the land dispute, carried out the assault in a brutal and premeditated manner.
The Kaithal police confirmed that the primary accused in the case is Jagat Singh, son of Dharam Singh. A case has been registered against him and his associates under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder. The police have launched a major manhunt to apprehend the accused, who fled the scene immediately after committing the crime.
Roots of Violence: A Dispute from 2012
Investigations reveal that the tragic event is not a random act of violence but the bloody culmination of a property conflict that has simmered since 2012. The dispute centers around a piece of land in Pundri, with both families claiming ownership and rights. Over the years, tensions have periodically flared, but never before with such a deadly outcome.
Local authorities had been aware of the animosity between the groups. The long duration of the dispute suggests that previous attempts at resolution, whether through community intervention or legal channels, had failed to provide a lasting solution. This failure ultimately set the stage for the horrific violence that unfolded this week.
Police Response and Community Impact
Following the double murder, a heavy police force was deployed in Pundri to prevent any further escalation of violence or retaliatory attacks. Senior police officials are overseeing the investigation, which is currently focused on tracking down the fugitive accused.
The incident has plunged the village into a state of fear and mourning. The loss of two lives from the same family has left relatives and neighbors devastated. Such extreme violence in a close-knit community highlights the dangerous potential of unresolved civil disputes, especially those related to land and property—a common flashpoint in many parts of rural India.
The police have urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of Jagat Singh and his accomplices to come forward. They have assured the public that all efforts are being made to solve the case swiftly and bring the perpetrators to justice. The incident serves as a grim reminder of the urgent need for effective and timely dispute resolution mechanisms at the local level to prevent personal conflicts from spiraling into deadly crimes.
