Bloodshed at Dawn: Son's Harrowing Account of Father and Brother's Murder Over Shop Dispute

The brutal reality of a late-night confrontation unfolded in the bustling grain market of Rudrapur, Udham Singh Nagar district, as a father and son were gunned down for resisting the forceful takeover of their shop. The elder son, Surinder Singh Sandhu, also known as Honey, narrowly escaped the hail of bullets and now lives with the horrifying images seared into his memory – his younger brother collapsing instantly after being shot in the chest, and his father agonizing for a torturous fifteen minutes before succumbing to his injuries.

With a voice still trembling, Honey recounted the terrifying ordeal that transpired on Monday. He confessed that the possibility of the intruders being armed never crossed his mind. After fatally shooting his brother, they turned their weapons on his father and then on him. He is certain that he would not be alive today had he not fled for his life. He recalled the presence of about 12 to 15 people at the scene, many with their faces concealed, suggesting a premeditated attack.

Honey revealed that the perpetrators were quick to flee after the shooting, indicating a well-planned operation. A bulldozer and a tractor-trolley were brought to dismantle the shop and seize its contents. He emphasized that his father had legally acquired the shop through an auction. However, the opposing party had been pressuring them for a compromise, which they had refused.

Adding to their distress, Honey disclosed that the accused had issued grave threats just 15 to 20 days prior within the court premises, warning them of dire consequences if they did not relinquish the shop. Little did they know that these threats would escalate to the point of costing his father and brother their lives over a mere property dispute.

The late Gurmez Singh, Honey's father, was not only a shopkeeper but also a skilled agricultural machinery mechanic. He had honed his expertise working in a shop in the main market for a decade before venturing out on his own, renting a shop in the grain market and running it with his two sons. Their family had migrated from Ludhiana years ago. Following the tragic news, relatives from Ludhiana and other places have begun to arrive. It was shared that Manpreet Singh was unmarried, and so was Surinder Singh.

Disturbing details emerged suggesting that the illegal occupation of the shop was orchestrated through a contract. Allegedly, an individual with a criminal background enlisted people from Rudrapur and Bilaspur. Their initial plan was to seize the shop's goods and create a dispute, but Gurmez and his family bravely resisted this scheme. Their vocal opposition tragically led to the fatal shooting of Gurmez and Manpreet. Law enforcement agencies are actively pursuing all those involved.

The swift response to the double homicide saw police and forensic teams at the crime scene collecting crucial evidence. A case has been registered against two identified individuals, Dinesh Saluja and Awdhesh Saluja, along with 10-15 unidentified assailants, based on the complaint filed by Surinder Singh.

According to available information, Gurmez Singh Sandhu (62), a resident of Ishwar Colony, owned a shop named Ludhiana Agro Traders in the grain market. He had purchased this shop eight months prior in a bank auction. On Sunday night around 2 AM, he received information about an attempted illegal occupation. He immediately set off on his motorcycle with his younger son, Manpreet Singh (28), towards the shop. Surinder Singh, the elder son, followed them on his scooter. Upon their arrival, they found a JCB attempting to demolish the shop's wall as part of the forceful takeover. When Gurmez Singh and Manpreet tried to intervene, the attackers unleashed a barrage of gunfire.

Surinder recounted how the individuals trying to seize their shop shot his brother Manpreet in the chest and his father Gurmez in the leg. The assailants also fired at him, but he managed to escape and promptly alerted the police. Both the injured father and son were rushed to the district hospital, where doctors tragically pronounced them dead. Their bodies were then sent for post-mortem examination. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting.

Local police swiftly arrived at the location and began reviewing CCTV footage from the surrounding area. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manikanth Mishra, Superintendent of Police (City) Uttam Singh Negi, and Circle Officer Prashant Kumar also inspected the site and gathered information from their subordinates.

Preliminary investigations revealed that a .32 bore pistol was used in the double murder. SSP Mishra stated that four teams, along with the Special Operations Group (SOG), have been formed under the leadership of the SP City. Several suspects are being questioned, and efforts are underway to identify the remaining culprits based on the CCTV footage. He assured that all the accused would be apprehended soon.

Adding a curious twist to the case, one of the identified main accused, Dinesh, was found with a gunshot wound in his leg. It is reported that he arrived at the police station in a dramatic manner shortly after the murders. Police have questioned him, and he is currently receiving treatment at a private hospital. Some observers view Dinesh's injury with suspicion, suggesting it might be an attempt to portray the horrific crime as a result of mutual gunfire. Tajinder Singh Virk, the national president of the Tarai Kisan Sangathan, pointed out that one side arrived fully prepared with weapons and vehicles to seize the property, while the other rushed to the scene from their sleep to resist. He found it highly suspicious that after the murder of two people, one of the alleged killers sustained a gunshot wound, suggesting a possible attempt to frame the incident. SSP Manikanth Mishra acknowledged the suspicious nature of Dinesh's injury and confirmed that a team is investigating this aspect of the case.