A 22-year-old man was shot dead by police during a raid in Bangiwal village, about 45 kilometers south of Jalandhar, on Friday evening. The incident has sparked protests by villagers and farm groups, who gathered outside Mehatpur police station on Saturday demanding action against the officers involved.
Family's Allegations
Lovepreet Singh alias Labha's uncle, Jaswant Singh, alleged that police dragged the youth out of a bathroom and beat him with lathis. "We told them they could take him away, but not break his legs. They did not stop thrashing him. When Lovepreet freed himself, they fired at him and then did not allow us to take him to hospital. He died," Jaswant said.
Police Version
Jalandhar-rural SSP Harvinder Singh Virk provided a different account. According to him, a team led by Mehatpur SHO Aman Saini went to Lovepreet's house around 7:30 pm to arrest him in connection with an attempted-murder case. The SSP said Lovepreet was in the courtyard and tried to flee. When senior constable Sukhwinder Singh and constable Inderjit Singh attempted to apprehend him, a scuffle ensued.
"Upon hearing the commotion, Lovepreet's mother, Kuldeep Kaur, his sister, Gagandeep Kaur alias Gagan, and several other individuals gathered and attacked the police party with sticks and sharp-edged weapons. The crowd obstructed the operation, and some unidentified persons assaulted ASI Sukhwant Singh and tore his uniform," Virk said.
Self-Defense Claim
The SSP stated that during the scuffle, an unidentified person fired a gunshot. "In order to safeguard his life and secure the government-issued weapon, Sukhwinder initially fired one round in the air. However, the attackers did not retreat, and Lovepreet tried to snatch the police weapon. Considering the grave situation and acting in self-defense as well as for the protection of fellow police personnel, two rounds were fired in response. The shots struck Lovepreet in the thigh," Virk said.
Virk further claimed that when police tried to take Lovepreet to hospital, his family members and others obstructed them. "With the assistance of village elders, the injured accused and police personnel were taken to hospital. During treatment, Lovepreet died of his injuries," he said.
Legal Action
A case has been registered against Lovepreet, his mother, sister, and four unidentified persons. The SSP assured that a fair, impartial, and thorough investigation is being conducted, and further action will be taken strictly according to law. He added that Lovepreet and several members of his family were already facing criminal cases.
