‘Framed in funds bungling case,’ ex-gurdwara cashier shoots self dead inside Moga shrine; 3 booked

Police said that Jagtar Singh had wrongly defamed Jang Singh of bungling gurdwara funds.

Police said Jang Singh died after he shot himself in the head at the deori (entrance) of the gurdwara. He had earlier opened fire at Jagtar Singh at least thrice but luckily the gun misfired, police added.

Police said Jang Singh also left a suicide note blaming three persons for the extreme step. All three were arrested, police added.

According to police, the incident was a fallout of a tension that had been brewing for nearly two weeks over gurdwara funds. Jang Singh, an Amritdhari Sikh, was accused of bungling Rs 7 lakh from gurdwara funds by new committee members.

Jang Singh (58)

Inspector Gurwinder Singh, SHO, Dharamkot police station, said that an internal inquiry conducted by the gurdwara members had given a clean chit to Jang Singh after he was found innocent and no bungling of funds was found. “For many days, Jang Singh requested the new committee members, including Jagtar Singh, to make an announcement in the gurdwara to inform the entire village that he (Jang Singh) has been proved innocent. However, the new committee ignored his request,” said the SHO.

On Wednesday early morning, Jang Singh reached the gurdwara where Jagtar Singh was already present. After the prayers were solemnised, Jagtar Singh came out and Jang Singh also followed him. Soon an argument ensued between the two. Jang Singh took out his licenced revolver and started firing at Jagtar Singh. “Jagtar Singh rushed inside the gurdwara, but Jang Singh kept firing. Luckily, all the shots missed the target. When he reached the gurdwara deori, he shot himself in the head and died on the spot,” said the SHO.

In the suicide note, the former cashier blamed Jagtar Singh, Baljit Singh and Jasvir Singh for the extreme step and for wrongly defaming him in the entire village for bungling gurdwara funds even though he was found innocent.

Harwinder Singh, son of the deceased, in his complaint to the police said that his father was a sincere gurdwara sewadar for many years. However, he was fired after the new gurdwara committee took over 15 days ago. He said after the new committee took over, his father was being constantly harassed by three members named in the suicide note who used to question his father every day on the issue of funds even though he had given an account of every penny multiple times. Harwinder Singh said in the police complaint that his father used to say that he will end his life if the harassment continues.

Moga police have registered an FIR against the three persons under Sections 306 and 34 of the IPC at Dharamkot police station.