Dharamsala firing: Sepoy’s kin seek high-level probe

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Barnala, September 17

Relatives of Sepoy Jasbir Singh (22), who allegedly shot dead two colleagues before committing suicide in the Dharamsala cantonment today, have demanded a high-level inquiry into the incident.

Expressing shock and disbelief, a majority of the residents of Jasbir’s native village, Rajgarh, in Barnala district said they had never seen him fighting with anyone.

Villagers had not yet informed his mother, Gurmeet Kaur, about the tragedy. Jasbir’s elder brother Jagdeep Singh is posted in the Army in Uttarakhand.

“Jasbir was a level-headed youth and a bright student,” said Karamjit Singh, sarpanch of Rajgarh village.

After Class XII, Jasbir had joined the Army two years ago.

“It’s unbelievable that he shot dead two other soldiers. The Army authorities must conduct a thorough investigation,” said Surjit Singh, elder brother of Nirbhai Singh, father of the deceased.

“We have not yet been informed by the Army authorities about the incident,” said Dharampal Gupta, Deputy Commissioner.