Pehowa (Kurukshetra): A 29-year-old man injured in an alleged road rage dispute in Pehowa on Sept 14 died at a private hospital in Kurukshetra on Saturday, triggering massive protests. The deceased has been identified as Gurpreet Singh.Police conducted a post-mortem through a panel of doctors and handed over the body to the family. However, the family later placed Gurpreet’s body on a stretcher in the middle of Pehowa’s main chowk and blocked the road, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. DSP Pehowa Randhir Singh reached the spot and tried to pacify the protesters. Gurpreet, who worked as a PVC installer, had married in 2018 and is survived by his wife and a son.As per a complaint by the victim’s cousin, Gagandeep Singh, Gurpreet was attacked by occupants of a white SUV while they were on their way to a market. Gagandeep alleged that after a minor dispute, as the vehicles moved ahead, the SUV occupants stopped their vehicle and blocked their way. When he stopped and questioned them, an accused, Karan Pandit, allegedly got out of the SUVcarrying a sword and attacked Gurpreet. Another accused allegedly struck Gagandeep on the head with a stick.Gurpreet suffered serious head injuries, and was referred for further treatment due to his critical condition.Pehowa City SHO Sunil Vats said no previous enmity between the accused and Gurpreet had emerged during investigation. “The dispute appeared to have started over a minor issue,” he added. Police had registered a case against Karan Pandit and another person on Sept 15, a day after the incident. Following Gurpreet’s death, Section 103 (punishment for murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), pertaining to murder, has now been added to the case. The SHO said the accused would be arrested soon. Later in the day, family members lifted the protest and cremated the body after an assurance by the police.
