Suicide bid by Mohali hotelier in jail

Ropar, March 19

Mohali hotelier Nirankar Singh Sarao, facing a trial for the alleged murder of his wife, attempted suicide at the district jail here yesterday. The jail authorities said Sarao tried to strangle himself with a piece of cloth given to inmates for covering their head. Sarao (63) had allegedly shot his wife Kulwant Kaur dead on October 18, 2017. The couple was on their way to the PGI in their car for the treatment of the accused when he pumped four bullets into his wife’s body from point-blank range in front of Manav Mangal Smart School at Phase X in Mohali. The police had registered a case under Section 302 of the IPC and the Arms Act, and arrested Sarao.

Ropar jail superintendent Daljit Singh said it was for the second time that the accused had attempted suicide in the jail in a similar way. Earlier, he tried to end his life nearly five months ago following which he was shifted to the Kapurthala jail. Recently, he was again brought to the Ropar jail on his request to the court in this regard.

The Ropar police said a case under Section 309 of the IPC (suicide attempt) had been registered against Saroa on a complaint of the jail authorities. —TNS