Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
The Galla Mandi area of Rudrapur, headquarters of Udham Singh Nagar district, was rocked by gunfire on Monday morning, leaving a father and son dead in a violent clash over a long-standing property dispute.
According to police, tension had been simmering between Gurmeet Singh, a resident of Ishwar Colony, and Dinesh Saluja and Awadhesh Saluja of Model Colony over the ownership of a shop, Ludhiana Agro Traders, in Galla Mandi. Around 2:20 am on Monday, Dinesh and Awadhesh allegedly arrived at the shop with 10-15 unidentified men and a JCB machine to forcibly take possession by demolishing the structure.
The guard at the premises immediately informed Gurmeet Singh, who, upon checking the live CCTV feed on his mobile phone, rushed to the scene along with his sons, Surendra Singh and Manpreet Singh.
As per eyewitness accounts, as soon as Gurmeet and his sons approached the shop, Dinesh’s group opened fire on them. Gurmeet Singh (60) and his younger son Manpreet Singh (26) sustained critical bullet injuries and collapsed on the spot. In the chaos, Surendra Singh narrowly escaped unhurt.
Despite efforts to flee, Gurmeet and Manpreet succumbed to their injuries and were declared dead at the district hospital. The chilling incident triggered panic across Galla Mandi, with traders and locals scrambling for cover.
Following the shootout, the police department swung into action. A forensic team collected vital evidence from the crime scene.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Manikant Mishra said, “The accused involved in the incident have been identified and will be arrested soon. Additional police forces have been deployed in the Galla Mandi area to maintain law and order.”
In a twist, Dinesh Saluja, who had suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during the incident, reached the police station seeking help. Police took him into custody and admitted him to the district hospital for treatment.
Surendra Singh, in his police complaint, stated, “We had initially rented the shop and later purchased it for Rs 48 lakh. When we tried to stop the illegal demolition, they threatened us and opened fire indiscriminately.”
On Surendra’s complaint, police have registered a case against Dinesh Saluja, Awadhesh Saluja, and 10-15 unidentified persons under Section 103 and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The weapons used in the crime have been seized, and investigations are underway.
SSP Mishra said, “It was a serious and premeditated attack stemming from a long-standing property dispute. The primary accused have been identified, and intensive efforts are underway to apprehend all those involved. The gunshot injury sustained by Dinesh Saluja is also under investigation to ascertain whether it was self-inflicted or caused during the crossfire. The strictest action will be taken to ensure justice for the victims.”
Meanwhile, Sikh religious organisations have refused to cremate the bodies of Gurmeet Singh and Manpreet Singh until the accused are brought to justice. Expressing deep anguish, Sardar Tejender Singh said, “We will not perform the last rites of our brothers until every accused is arrested. This is not just a murder of two individuals — it is an attack on the entire community’s dignity. The entire city must stand united against such brutality and raise its voice against the crumbling law and order situation.”
