Gangster Mannu Kussa faced more than 10 criminal cases

Balwant Garg

Faridkot, July 20

The killing of 31-year-old carpenter-turned-gangster Manpreet Singh, alias Mannu Kussa, of Kussa village of Nihal Singh Wala subdivision of Moga on Wednesday in an encounter with the police has left many residents of this village of 4,700-plus population in a sombre mood.

Already facing more than 10 criminal cases, registered at the Badhni Kalan police station in Moga in the last nine years, Manpreet Mannu was on the radar of the state police after he was named as one of the prime accused in the Sidhu Moosewala’s murder case. According to the police Manpreet was the accused, who fired first shot at Moosewala on May 29.

Born in a Dalit family of daily wagers, Manpreet and his two brothers — Gurdip Singh Gora and Shamsher Singh — were known as good and sober carpenters in the village. But it was a turn of fate for the family about nine years ago when Manpreet got into a minor scuffle with a youth, Harpreet Singh.

In this scuffle, a friend of Harpreet Singh from Rangian village of Sangrur was allegedly killed at the hands of Manpreet when the former tried to make a forcible entry into the latter’s house.

Manpreet was sent to jail. After about one year in jail, when Manpreet was released on bail, he and his brother Gurdip Singh Gora allegedly killed Harpreet Singh in the village.

Partap Singh, SHO, Badhni Kalan village, said, “Around one dozen criminal cases against Manpreet Mannu are pending at the Badhni Kalan police station.”

Manpreet’s two brothers, Gurdip Singh and Shamsher Singh are also in jail after murder of gangster Harjit Singh Penta, who was killed at Marhi Mustafa of Moga in April. Penta was a member of Devinder Bambiha gang. He was allegedly killed on the directions of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, claimed police sources.

Belonged to family of daily-wagers

Manpreet Singh, alias Mannu Kussa, was born into a Dalit family of daily-wagers. His two brothers — Gurdip Singh Gora and Shamsher Singh — are in jail after murder of gangster Harjit Singh Penta.