Ludhiana murder case cracked: Brother arrested for plotting ex sarpanch's killing over land dispute
PTC News Desk: Police have solved the murder case of the former sarpanch of Mannewal village in Ludhiana’s Ladhowal area. Police Commissioner Swapn Sharma said the victim’s cousin was the alleged mastermind and had the murder carried out over a property dispute.
According to Commissioner Sharma, the two families have been involved in long-running legal disputes over land. Seven people have been named as accused in the case. All of them are currently absconding and no arrests have been made so far.
The victim was identified as Navtej Singh alias Neetu, 60. On Saturday evening, two motorcycle-borne attackers fired around 10 rounds at his Innova. Seriously injured, Navtej was taken by locals to DMC Hospital in his own vehicle, where doctors declared him dead.
Police said the grandfathers of the two families were brothers. One family owns around 34 acres of land, while the other owns about 44 acres. Their properties are adjacent, and several civil cases related to the land are pending in courts, ranging from local courts to the High Court.
According to police, the families had faced tensions several times in the past and had been involved in incidents of threatening and confronting each other. The Police Commissioner clarified that the murder was not politically motivated but was the result of an old family dispute.
Land dispute with relatives
According to family sources, Navtej Singh had been involved in a long-running land dispute with some of his relatives. The family suspects that the rivalry may have led to his murder being carried out by hired attackers. Navtej Singh is survived by his wife, a son who is a lawyer, and a married daughter who lives in Amritsar. Police are examining the CCTV footage as part of the investigation.
Navtej was returning after checking work on his fields
On the evening of October 3, Navtej Singh had gone to Mannewal village to check work being carried out on his 30–35 acres of land. He was returning to his home in Krishna Nagar, Ghumar Mandi. His lawyer son usually accompanied him, but he was alone on the day of the incident.
In the evening, his Innova turned from the Ladhowal toll plaza towards the South City Road bridge. Near the Punjab Food Office, two motorcycle-borne attackers allegedly targeted his vehicle and opened fire.
- PTC NEWS
