Pastor’s murder: Family refuses to hold funeral, demands killers’ arrest

Nikhil Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, July 16

The family of a pastor, who was shot dead by two assailants at Peerubanda Mohalla, on Sunday refused to hold a funeral until his killers were arrested, as Christians held protests against the murder.

The pastor of a local church was shot dead by two assailants at Peerubanda Mohalla around 8.45 pm on Saturday. The bike-borne assailants fired multiple shots at the pastor, killing him on the spot. The deceased, Sultan Masih, sustained two bullet injuries in the chest and one in the head.

Protesters blocked the Ludhiana-Jalandhar highway to demand justice.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

"We will not perform last rites until police arrest the killers. It is attack on Christians and we will not bow to any pressure. We want justice," a protester said.

Read: Pastor shot dead outside Ludhiana church

Amarinder announces Rs 5 lakh for widow, police job for son of Ludhiana pastor

Video by Nikhil Bhardwaj

Protesters called off the demonstration later after police promised to take action.

Two men on a motorcycle shot pastor Sultan Masih dead at a church at Peerubanda Mohalla late on Saturday evening. Police said that although CCTV cameras installed in the church captured the incident, it was too dark to see the assailants’ faces.