Grandpa dead, YC leader shoots grandma, self

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, January 14

Minutes after his grandfather Hari Chand Mittal breathed his last this morning, Harmesh Mittal alias Honey (25), a local Youth Congress (YC) leader, shot dead his grandmother and then turned the gun on himself. There are no survivors from the family now. 

The police have seized the crime weapon and begun investigations. Hari Chand was suffering from cancer, said sources. Even as mourners thronged the deceased’s house, Harmesh took his grandmother Krisna Devi (65) to a room and locked the door. Thereafter, three shots were heard.

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Alarmed, Harmesh’s friends and neighbours broke open the door and found the two lying in a pool of blood. They were rushed to the Barnala Civil Hospital, where both died. 

“The victims had bullet injuries in the head. We have registered a murder case against Honey,” said Balwant Singh, SHO, Barnala City police station.  

Harmesh’s father Lalit had died five months before his birth. His mother chose to leave him with his grandparents and move on. The family owned a furniture showroom in the town.

“The bodies were handed over to the relatives after a postmortem examination. We are yet to ascertain why Harmesh killed his grandmother and then committed suicide,” the SHO added.