Settlement meeting ends in neighbour’s murder

Ludhiana: A meeting, held to reach a compromise following a fight between two neighbours, turned ugly, leading to murder of one of them. Lalu (21) of Makkar Colony, who hailed from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, was beaten to death and his friend was thrashed when he tried to rescue the former.
The incident occurred at a public park on Sua road in Sahnewal on Monday morning. The victims and the accused had a fight on Sunday night when they were consuming liquor together.

The onlookers rushed the injured man to hospital and also informed the police. The Sahnewal police have registered a murder case against Balwant and nine of his unidentified accomplices.
A few months ago, Lalu had shifted to Ludhiana with his brother and father, and had got a job in a factory. The injured man, Mohit, is a labourer, police said.
Inspector Inderjeet Singh Boparai, SHO, Sahnewal police station, said Lalu was involved in a scuffle with Balwant, who lived in the same locality, on Sunday night over some petty issue while consuming liquor at a vend. Lalu had shared the incident with his friend Mohit. On Monday morning, Balwant approached Lalu to meet for a settlement at Indra park on Sua road. Lalu reached there with Mohit and some other friends. Balwant and at least nine accomplices were already present at the spot.”
The SHO said Balwant and Lalu were again involved in a spat after which the former and his accomplices attacked Lalu with sharp-edged weapons. Lalu suffered injuries in his head and possibly died on the spot. As Mohit tried to rescue him, he was thrashed too. He suffered injuries, but his condition is stable. During the assault, the accused had chopped off one of Lalu’s finger.
Chhotu, brother of the victim, claimed that on Sunday night, a group of assailants had barged into their house while looking for Lalu. But they left as they did not find Lalu in the house.
A case has been registered against the accused and a manhunt has been launched for their arrest, the SHO said.