Assaulted by addict father, boy succumbs

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, December 7

After struggling for life for a week, Harkirat Singh (11), whose drug addict father Gurbaksh Singh strangled him and his younger brother on December 1, died on Wednesday night at a private hospital in Ludhiana. His father had committed suicide in Malerkotla jail in the wee hours of December 5.

“Harkirat died last night. His post-mortem examination was conducted in Malerkotla hospital today and his body was consigned to flames at his native Mahauli Khurd village,” said Palwinder Singh, SHO, Sandhaur police station.

During the intervening night of December 1 and December 2, their father had tried to kill both brothers by strangulating them in the dry fodder room near their house. However, their grandfather found them lying unconscious and both were admitted to the Ludhiana hospital. Villagers had pooled in money for their treatment. Harkirat’s younger brother Karnvir Singh (9) is still in a critical state.