Prime accused, 2 others held

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 24

A day after a youth was gunned down in a church, the police have arrested the prime accused, Randeep Gill, and his brother Balram Gill along with their third accomplice Suraj Kumar from Hoshiarpur after a chase on late Friday evening.

Randeep Gill, a self-styled president of an organisation of a particular community and his brother, had several criminal cases registered against them in the city and in Tarn Taran. A hunt was launched after they killed Prince Atwal of Guru Ram Das Nagar in the Gilwali Gate area. His brother Manoj Pehalwan also sustained a bullet injury in the attack.

Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said that following the Friday’s incident, the accused were booked for murder, attempt to murder and under sections of the Arms Act and a hunt was launched to nab him. He said during investigation it was found that the deceased, Prince Atwal, had a close association with notorious gangster Bobby Malhotra, who is currently lodged in jail. A few days ago, Prince and Randeep had a dispute over some issue.

Jaspal Masih, chairman, All-India Christian Samaj Morcha, and national secretary, SAD, who is a complainant in the case had called both the parties for brokering a compromise between them. However, a verbal duel broke out between them and Randeep and Balram fired at Prince and his brother Manoj. Prince was killed on the spot while Manoj is under treatment at a private hospital here. It was found that Randeep, Balram and Suraj had fled to Hoshiarpur. Following which, police teams nabbed the accused within six hours of the incident.

The police recovered a revolver along with six live cartridges, one rifle with 27 bullets, three mobiles and an Innova car from their possession.