Six get life term for former MLA’s murder

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, May 17

The District and Sessions Judge of Moga SK Garg today sentenced six persons to life imprisonment and another to three-year imprisonment. They were found guilty of murdering former Akali MLA Malkit Singh Keetu at his house in Bilaspur village of Moga district on October 29, 2012.

A two-time former MLA Keetu was allegedly shot dead by his three nephews and two others over a property dispute. At least five bullets were fired at Keetu from close range out of which three hit him. Two bullets fired from .315 bore rifle hit his chest while another passed through his thigh, resulting in heavy blood loss leading to his death.

He had just come out after taking a bath when the incident took place.

Keetu had a towel wrapped around him when his nephews reached there and entered into a heated altercation with him before firing gunshots. Keetu’s gunmen reportedly fired at the assailants but they managed to flee. The former MLA was rushed to a private hospital at Badhni Kalan in a critical condition where he was declared brought dead.

The police booked Keetu’s three nephews — Jaspreet Singh, Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet Singh — and two others Kulwant Singh and Angrej Singh on the charge of murder. Another accused Iqbal Singh alias Raju’s name was included during the investigation. The sessions court has sentenced all of them to life imprisonment.

The weapon used in the crime belonged to one Harpal Singh, son of Daya Singh and a resident of Bilaspur village. He has been sentenced to three-year imprisonment. The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on him.

Gurpreet and Harpreet are sons of Keetu’s brother Karam Singh while Jaswinder Singh is their first cousin. Both Harpreet and Jaswinder had fallen out with Keetu and joined the Congress ahead of the 2102 Assembly elections against their uncle.