BATALA: A second person injured in the shooting incident near Simbal Chowk in Batala, Gurdaspur, succumbed to his injuries late Friday night while undergoing treatment in Amritsar. The deceased has been identified as Kanwaljit Singh, the owner of a gun house in Batala. His brother, Jagjit Singh, remains in critical condition and is being treated at a hospital in Amritsar.
Details of the Incident
The incident occurred on Friday following a dispute over giving way to a vehicle. An altercation reportedly broke out between Nihang Singh Deepinder Singh and the brothers Kanwaljit Singh and Jagjit Singh. During the ensuing exchange of gunfire, Deepinder Singh was killed on the spot, while the two brothers sustained serious injuries and were referred to Amritsar for treatment. Kanwaljit Singh later died from his injuries.
Family's Reaction
Deepinder Singh's father, Jasbir Singh, told the media that his son had no personal enmity with anyone. He said Deepinder was actively involved in social service and ran a de-addiction centre. In an emotional statement, he expressed confusion over why his son had been killed.
Police Investigation
According to police sources, three pistols were recovered from the scene. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Batala, Mehtab Singh, said investigations so far have found no evidence of an old rivalry, extortion demands, or a targeted killing. He described the incident as a case of road rage. "It was a sudden flare-up of tempers that turned the argument into a gun battle," he said. The SSP confirmed that a case has been registered and an investigation is underway.
Sequence of Events
According to police, the dispute began over the crossing of vehicles. During a heated argument, a man travelling in a Toyota Fortuner allegedly pulled out a pistol and fired two to three shots. Nihang Singh Deepinder Singh then allegedly returned fire with his licensed pistol, injuring one of the Fortuner occupants. Nearly 15 rounds were fired during the shootout. Police have reportedly recovered nine to ten spent cartridge cases from the scene, sources said.
