CHANDIGARH: A suspected land dispute turned deadly in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district after a 35-year-old man allegedly shot dead his aunt, her teenage son and his own friend before turning the gun on himself, police said on Wednesday.The four deaths, reported from Mundi Kalar village in Batala, have left residents stunned as investigators piece together the sequence of events that unfolded late Tuesday night.According to police, the accused, Manjot Singh (35), went to the house of his uncle. Manjot was accompanied by his friend Pargat Singh, an ex-serviceman and a resident of Khan Pyara village.Police said Manjot was carrying a pistol belonging to Pargat when he allegedly opened fire on his aunt, Hardeep Kaur (45), and her 13-year-old son, Haramrit Singh. Nishan Singh was not at home when the shooting took place.Pargat objected to the attack, leading to an argument between the two men. During the altercation, Manjot shot him dead.Pargat’s body was later recovered from an open area nearby, PTI reported.Manjot later went back home and allegedly shot himself dead with the same weapon. His body was found in the kitchen.The incident came to light when Nishan Singh returned home and found his wife and son dead.He alerted the police, who rushed to the village and launched an investigation.It is suspected that a land dispute between Manjot and Nishan was the reason behind the killings. The bodies have been sent to Batala Civil Hospital for post-mortem examinations, police said.Manjot’s parents are deceased, while his brother lives abroad, police added.Officials said further investigation is underway.(With agency inputs)
