A 35-year-old man fatally shot his aunt, her teenage son, and his own friend before taking his own life in Mundi Kalar village, Batala, in Punjab's Gurdaspur district late Tuesday night, police reported on Wednesday. The incident is suspected to stem from a land dispute between the accused and his uncle.
Sequence of Events
The accused, identified as Manjot Singh, arrived at the residence of his uncle Nishan Singh on Tuesday night accompanied by his friend Pargat Singh, an ex-serviceman from Khan Pyara village. According to police, Manjot was holding Pargat's pistol when he opened fire on his aunt Hardeep Kaur, 45, and her son Haramrit Singh, 13. Nishan Singh was not present at the time of the shooting.
Pargat Singh objected to the firing and engaged in an argument with Manjot. The accused then turned the weapon on his friend, killing him. Pargat's body was discovered in an open area near the scene.
Suicide and Discovery of Bodies
Following the killings, Manjot returned to his own home and allegedly shot himself dead with the same pistol. His body was found in the kitchen of his residence. When Nishan Singh returned home, he discovered the bodies of his wife and son and immediately alerted the authorities.
Police have sent all bodies to Batala Civil Hospital for post-mortem examinations. Investigators suspect that a land dispute between Manjot and his uncle Nishan served as the motive for the murders. Manjot's parents are deceased, and his brother resides abroad, according to police.
Weapon and Investigation
The pistol used in the crime belonged to Pargat Singh, the ex-serviceman who was also killed. Police are investigating how Manjot obtained possession of the weapon and the exact nature of the land disagreement. No arrests have been made as the primary suspect is deceased. The case is under further investigation by local law enforcement.
