Mohali youth tries to stop fight, pays with his life

Mohali: A 27-year-old man was fatally stabbed while trying to intervene in a scuffle outside a temple in Phase-11 on the intervening night of February 13 and 14. The victim, Gursev Singh Bhangu, originally from Tharbi village in Tohana, Haryana, succumbed to his injuries at a private hospital on Monday morning.Gursev, who lived with his maternal aunt in Phase-11 and ran an immigration firm in Mohali, had gone to the temple for Shivratri prayers. According to complainant Sanpreet Singh, the incident occurred around 1.30am when Gursev and four friends were returning from the temple and saw a group of 15-20 youths involved in a fight.Eyewitnesses told police that Gursev tried to pacify the group, but an argument broke out and he was stabbed in the stomach and chest with a sharp-edged weapon. The attackers fled, and CCTV footage is being scanned to identify them, police said.He was taken to a private hospital in critical condition but died during treatment. Police initially registered an FIR for attempt to murder, but the charges were enhanced to murder following his death. A case was registered at Phase-11 police station under Sections 109, 118(1), 77, 190 and 191(3) of the IPC.Family alleges delay in treatmentFamily members staged a protest outside the private hospital, alleging a delay of nearly two hours in starting treatment. They blocked the road and demanded immediate arrests. They also refused the post-mortem initially, insisting that the accused be arrested first.SSP says 5 suspects detainedSSP Harmandeep Singh Hans reached the hospital to pacify the protesting family and confirmed that five suspects had been rounded up. A motorcycle believed to be connected to the accused was also seized. He said a board of doctors would conduct the postmortem and added that any medical negligence, if proven, would be acted upon. Police are identifying and tracing the remaining accused.Frequent quarrelsThe victim's father, Balwinder Singh, alleged that migrant youths in the area often quarrel and create a nuisance. He claimed his son was attacked after objecting to their behaviour outside the temple. Friends of the deceased said around 17-18 people were involved in the assault.