Firing victim’s relatives lift sit-in after assurance of swift action

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 24

Family members of Ashish Kumar, alias Ashu, on Wednesday lifted their ‘dharna’ (sit in) after getting assurance regarding swift action for the arrest of the firing accused. Ashu had sustained bullet injuries after a group of men fired at him on April 16. He succumbed on Tuesday at PGI, Chandigarh, and his body reached the city on Wednesday.

Jagir Kaur, mother of Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, also reached the agitation site and expressed grief with them. She, along with DCP Jagmohan Singh, assured the family that the accused would be arrested soon.

Ashu’s family had been protesting at Rattan Singh Chowk after he succumbed to gunshot injuries at PGI, Chandigarh, since Tuesday. They accused police of not arresting the culprits under “pressure”. Heavy police force was deputed at the site amid the agitation. The protesters alleged that there was no law and order in the city as several people shot his Ashu to death in broad daylight while the police failed to nab the culprits even after a week. “We demand immediate arrest of the culprits. In case the police fail to nab them, we will launch another agitation,” said a relative of the deceased.

DCP Jagmohan Singh said raids were being conducted at the suspected hideouts of the accused who had been evading arrest since the incident.

Ashu was seriously injured when several persons, equipped with firearms, attacked him on April 16. He had to be admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh. He suffered bullet injuries to his legs and back.

Based on the statement of Ashu, the police had registered a case against seven persons, identified as Cami Pehalwan, his brother Love, Pawan, Tidda, Yash, Baljinder Singh and Bittu Pehlwan, all residents of Navi Abadi.

THE CASE

After Ashish Kumar, alias Ashu, was fired at in Mahal village on April 16, he was admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital where doctors referred him to the PGI, Chandigarh. While Ashu was under treatment, he had named Cami Pehalwan, his brother Love, Pawan, Tidda, Yash, Baljinder Singh and Bittu Pehlwan, all residents of Navi Abadi. All of them are said to be at large.