CHANDIGARH: Pathankot attack martyr Kulwant Singh's younger brother, Hardip Singh, and his wife Kulwinder Kaur were allegedly beaten-up on Sunday by a travel agent and his accomplices over a monetary dispute, the video of which went viral.
The couple was beaten up outside a shop near Gurdaspur in a dispute over Rs 9 lakh given to the agent Gurnam Singh, to send him abroad.
The police on Monday submitted a detailed report to chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh on the assault and said a manhunt is on to nab the absconding culprits.
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, which went viral on social media on Sunday, Amarinder Singh directed State DGP Suresh Arora to initiate a thorough probe and ensure that Kulwant Singh’s family is provided full protection.
Acting on the chief minister’s directives, Arora ordered an immediate investigation, which found that Hardeep had paid Rs 9 lakh to Gurnam Singh of Chak Sharif, to send him to the USA in 2015.
After he failed to send Hardeep Singh to America, Gurnam Singh returned Rs 3.4 lakh while deducting Rs. 1,6 lakh for expenses. An affadavit was signed by the agent promising a refund of Rs 4 lakh.
However, as per the report submitted to the chief minister, the agent did not stick to the agreement, after which Hardeep threatened him with a police complaint.
The Chak Sharif village sarpanch intervened in a bid to resolve the issue but failed, leading to a heated argument between the parties. The sarpanch then advised Hardeep Singh to report the matter to police.
Hardeep Singh and Kulwinder were at a recharge shop en route to the police
station when Gurnam and his kin, including women, beat the duo inside the shop. The incident was captured by a CCTV, according to the police report.
A case was registered on Sunday under sections 323,341,354,148 & 149 of the IPC at Bhaini Mian Khan police station.
The ten people named as accused based on Kulwinder Kaur’s statement are absconding.
Capt Amarinder Singh has directed the DGP to take all necessary steps to ensure their arrest. Such brazen lawlessness will not be tolerated, the chief minister warned, directing the DGP to send a strong signal down the line to all policemen to be on their toes to ensure protection to citizens of the State.