In a shocking incident of brazen violence, a 36-year-old former Kabaddi player was shot dead in broad daylight in Ludhiana on Monday. The victim, identified as Gagandeep Singh, a resident of Manuke village, was gunned down in the local grain market, allegedly over a dispute stemming from an assault on a fellow Kabaddi player.
The Fatal Attack and Immediate Aftermath
The incident occurred around 3 pm on Monday when Gagandeep Singh was standing in the grain market. According to his nephew, Jaskaran Singh, a group of 10 to 12 persons arrived on motorcycles and in a Honda City car. Two or three of the assailants were armed with pistols and opened fire, discharging 10 to 12 rounds. Gagandeep sustained bullet injuries in the leg and abdominal region.
Bystanders rushed the critically injured man to the government hospital in Jagraon, but doctors declared him dead on arrival. Jaskaran claimed that when he reached the spot, the assailants also fired at him, but he managed to escape unharmed.
Root of the Rivalry: A Friend's Assault
Police and family sources indicate the murder was the violent culmination of a recent quarrel, not a longstanding feud. The primary accused, Gurasewak Singh alias Motu, also from Manuke village, was reportedly a friend of the deceased. The trouble began when Motu and his associates allegedly assaulted a Kabaddi player who was a close friend of Gagandeep.
Jaskaran Singh, the nephew, stated that his uncle protested this assault, telling the accused he would stand by his friend because he belonged to a poor family and they played Kabaddi together. This intervention angered Motu and his group, who then threatened Gagandeep. The dispute escalated earlier on Monday morning when the accused allegedly attacked Gagandeep's friend with kirpans (swords).
Police Action and Community Reaction
The Ludhiana Rural Police have registered a case and booked five identified accused. The named individuals include Gursewak Singh Motu, Pradeep Singh, Jaspal Singh, and others, all from Manuke village. One accused, Pradeep Singh, was detained within an hour of the case being registered. Raids are ongoing to arrest the remaining four.
SSP Dr. Ankur Gupta confirmed the action based on statements from the deceased's wife, Lovedeep Kaur, and mother, Gurmeet Kaur. He revealed that both the victim and the main accused had criminal histories. Gagandeep had around five cases, including under the Excise and NDPS Acts, while Gursewak Motu had at least two cases involving assault and the Arms Act.
The murder has sent shockwaves through the community. Local MLA Sarabjit Kaur Manuke visited the civil hospital and urged the SSP to ensure the swift arrest of all culprits. The grieving family, including Gagandeep's mother, wife, and younger brother Pargat Singh, have demanded strict and stringent punishment for the killers. Gagandeep is survived by his wife, two daughters, and a son.
DIG, Ludhiana Range, Satinder Singh, stated that the accused and the deceased had a fight earlier on Monday which went unreported. He added that Gursewak Motu had called three to four youths from a nearby district, leading to the escalation and fatal shooting. The DIG affirmed that the rivalry stemmed from enmity within the village and assured that all remaining suspects would be arrested soon.
