Childhood friend booked for murder of MBBS student in Patiala

Patiala: Days after a 24-year-old final-year MBBS student was found murdered inside his paying guest accommodation in Patiala, and police have booked his neighbour and childhood friend, Mohit Verma, who is yet to be arrested.The deceased was identified as Kamaldeep, a resident of Bareta town in Mansa district. Police said he was found lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds, primarily on the neck and head. According to the FIR registered on the complaint of the victim's father, Mahinderpal, Kamaldeep had informed his family on Sunday evening that Mohit Verma arrived in Patiala, and would stay overnight with him at the PG accommodation.The FIR stated that Kamaldeep spoke to his parents again around 6:15 am on Monday, and told them he was getting ready for college. When repeated calls later in the day went unanswered, his parents visited Mohit Verma's residence. Family members alleged they found Mohit at home with fresh bandages on his hands and feet. When questioned, he reportedly claimed he sustained injuries in a motorcycle accident and returned from Patiala early in the morning without any knowledge about Kamaldeep's whereabouts.The family then rushed to Patiala, where acquaintances and friends checking the PG room discovered Kamaldeep's body. Police subsequently registered a murder case.The victim's family alleged the accused frequently borrowed money from Kamaldeep and recently demanded Rs 5,000 from him. "Kamaldeep refused to lend more money as earlier amounts, reaching a few lakhs, allegedly remained unpaid. The accused was addicted to drugs. Both studied together till Class X and later chose different streams. While Kamaldeep got admission in GMC Patiala, Mohit got admission in Punjabi University Patiala in another stream, only to drop out a year later. Mohit's father employed at a goldsmith's shop", said a Bareta resident. However police said that investigation was going on and things will be cleared only after the accused is arrested.Senior police officials, along with forensic experts, on Monday reached the spot soon after receiving information, and cordoned off the area for investigation. The body was shifted to Government Rajindra Hospital for post-mortem examination to ascertain the exact time and sequence of events leading to the murder. Sources said that besides multiple neck injuries, some injuries on Kamaldeep's head were also recorded. Superintendent of Police (City) Palwinder Singh Cheema said the police control room received information regarding the incident on Monday evening. "At around 5:30 pm, our team reached the PG accommodation and recovered the body from the room," he said.Preliminary investigation suggested the victim was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon and sustained multiple stab injuries to the neck, resulting in excessive blood loss, he added.SSP Varun Sharma and DSP Gurbir Singh Brar said multiple angles were being examined. Investigators were also analysing CCTV footage from the locality. Police sources said a suspect was seen entering Kamaldeep's accommodation on Sunday night, and fleeing the area with apparent bloodstains on his clothes on Monday morning.Raids were being conducted to apprehend the accused, while other residents of the building were also being questioned. Kamaldeep, described by teachers and peers as a quiet and intelligent student, was pursuing his final year of MBBS and was residing in the PG accommodation located behind the medical college campus for a considerable period.Principal of Government Medical College, Patiala, Dr RPS Sibia, expressed grief over the incident and said the institution lost a promising student.The cremation of Kamaldeep was held on Tuesday evening in Bareta amid a large gathering of relatives, friends and local residents. The family said Kamaldeep's sister served as a doctor in Malerkotla, while his elder brother is prepearing for competitive examinations. MSID: 131201993 413 |