Dera Baba Nanak double murder: Prime accused surrenders in court

Case registered against unidentified persons for torching vehicles, damaging liquor vend
Three days after two men were allegedly crushed to death under an SUV after a clash over sale of liquor in Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district, the main accused surrendered before the court here on Friday.
Hardev Singh, alias Billa, of of Kalanaur village, who was driving the SUV, has been sent to two-day police remand. Police have already booked nine persons on charges of murder.
On Tuesday a clash ensued in the town’s main market after Subegh Singh and Sanjeev Kumar were “intercepted” by Billa, an employee of local liquor contractor Singla Group, over bringing liquor on a scooter from nearby town Ramdas to sell here. But the two men assaulted Billa near the bus stand before he left the spot in his SUV. Sanjeev worked for a contractor in Ramdas, it is learnt.
As the duo chased Billa on their scooter, he turned around near Fatehgarh Churian Chowk, and started chasing them instead; and crushed them under his Mahindra Bolero a few metres ahead near the police station, said witnesses.
Batala senior superintendent of police Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said raids were on to arrest the accused.
After their death on the spot, their family and friends rushed to a liquor vend just in front of the local police station and pelted it with stones before setting it afire along with two SUVs. They also thrashed another of the contractor’s employees, Sunny, who was admitted to the civil hospital later.
Police also registered a case under Sections 427 (mischief causing damage to fifty rupees) and 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to destroy house) of the IPC against unidentified persons, who reportedly torched the liquor vend and two vehicles of the liquor contractor.
Talking to HT, Subegh’s brother Baghel Singh said: “Last year, his brother had a share in Majha Wine, the contractor who was running the liquor business in Dera Baba Nanak. But this year, Singla and group got the licence following which, Subegh shifted to Ramdas. Even, the shop in front of Dera Baba Nanak bus stand, where the liquor contractor kept his entire stock of liquor, was owned by my brother and the outstanding rent is also a cause of dispute between Subegh and Nirmal Singh Randhawa, managing director Singla Group,” he said.
“Even on Monday night, a clash took place between Subegh and Randhawa, but after the intervention of area shopkeepers, the matter was resolved. But the next morning, when my brother and his friend were coming on the Fatehgarh Churrian road, Randhawa and his aides killed them by crushing them under their SUV. “We will hold a massive protest if police fail to arrest the remaining accused within two days,” he said.
Batala senior superintendent of police Opinderjit Singh Ghuman said raids were on to arrest the accused.