In a harrowing incident that transpired around 8 am on Friday in Kothaguru, Bathinda district, a 45-year-old man, Gursharan Singh, reportedly shot and killed his cousin, Gurshant Singh, and another villager before ultimately turning the gun on himself.
Sources reveal that the roots of the confrontation between Gursharan Singh, also known as Swaranjit Singh, and his cousin Gurshant had deepened since a heated altercation last month. The violent episode occurred while they were in the village to observe the first death anniversary of their uncle, Narinder Singh.
Providing details of the grim sequence of events, Shingara Singh Mann, president of BKU Ugrahan’s Bathinda unit, stated that Swaranjit had arrived early and awaited Gurshant on the terrace. Upon Gurshant’s arrival in the verandah, Swaranjit allegedly opened fire, causing Gurshant to fall to the ground. Bhola Singh, in his mid-40s and present to deliver milk, rushed to intervene but was also tragically shot and killed by Swaranjit.
Mohit Aggarwal, deputy superintendent of police for Rampura Phul, reported that three individuals lost their lives, with several others sustaining injuries. The injured have been transported to the hospital, and authorities are actively investigating the motive behind this brutal incident. Aggarwal added that a 0.12 bore licensed gun was used, and the accused, Swaranjit, had a history of firing recklessly, leading to police intervention. In the ensuing confrontation, Swaranjit turned the weapon on himself.
Notably, both cousins had a history of legal conflicts, with police cases filed against each other. Despite a religious program taking place in the house, Swaranjit continued firing, unaware of the ongoing event. BKU worker Pala Singh, who attempted to rescue the victims, suffered a bullet injury near his chest, and Granthi Kuldeep Singh, performing prayers at the death anniversary function, also sustained injuries. Jasvir Singh, a friend of Pala Singh, revealed that the police arrived in large numbers to intervene, but the tragic incident spanned two hours before Swaranjit took his own life. The community is left grappling with the aftermath of this shocking and distressing event.
