Farm to jail: A family row pushed youth to crime

LUDHIANA: Amritraj Singh, 26, a resident of Dhoula village in Meharban, who was arrested after a shootout on Friday, had been living a normal life till June 2011. He was engaged in farming with his father and brothers and seemed set for a staid life till a family dispute abruptly pushed him into crime. Amrit and his family members allegedly killed his aunt (father’s sister) due to a dispute.

On June 28, 2011, Meharban police booked Amritraj, his father Jagjeet Singh, mother Rupinder Kaur, brother Simran Singh and sister Simmi for killing Jagjeet’s sister Jaspinder Kaur.

Inspector Beant Juneja, in-charge CIA-2 said an FIR was lodged on the complaint of Kulwinder Kaur of Haibowal Kalan, another sister of Amrit’s father Jagjeet. She said that her sister Jaspinder owned a piece of land and the accused used to get it on contract for farming. She said that Jaspinder did not want to give her land anymore as she wanted to do farming on her own. “When she refused to give him the land, the accused conspired to kill her...Amrit had fired two bullets at his aunt to kill her,” she said.

A case was registered under sections 302 (murder) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Amrit, along with the other accused, was arrested and lodged in the Ludhiana central jail. Later, he was released on bail and the case is under trial now. The inspector added the second FIR of cheating and forgery was lodged against him on May 27, 2012. He was arrested and released on bail at that time.

“During his time in Ludhiana Central jail, Amritraj came in contact with many criminals and strengthened his network. He came out on bail in 2016. As per records, no criminal case was registered against him between 2016 and November 6, 2022. Amritraj and Udayraj lived in neighbouring villages and came in contact. Udayraj had no criminal background...The accused planned to rob an ATM kiosk. Amritraj arranged a gun and used it to break open an ATM kiosk in Kohara; however they failed,” said the inspector.

Amritraj was nabbed after a shootout between him and the police. He fired at least four gunshots near Janakpuri area and police also fired in retaliation, injuring him. Police said he had been given medical aid and was likely to be discharged on Sunday, after which he would be produced in court.