Five seconds, two gunshots: Law student shoots dead woman classmate, turns gun on himself

Sandeep’s mother Harjinder Kaur, a resident of Naushehra Pannuan village, alleged that Prince had been harassing her daughter for some time and asked how a student managed to bring a firearm into the college. Sandeep was engaged to be married, she said.

Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police Surendra Lamba said an investigation was underway to determine the motive behind the killing. “Prima facie, they appear to have been friends. Possibly, the friendship turned bitter. It is all part of the investigation. The accused is in critical condition. His father works with the CRPF and is posted outside Punjab. Weapon used in the crime was not of the father and was possibly illegal,” the SSP said.

The SSP said an FIR has been registered under Section 103 (punishment for murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Arms Act. Police have also seized the duo’s mobile phones for further investigation.

The CCTV camera footage shows Prince sitting in front of a bench while Sandeep was standing. Another woman student seen sitting near Sandeep, while some other students could also be seen.

Suddenly, Prince gets up, fishes out a pistol from his bag and shoots Sandeep in the head. He reloads the pistol and fires at his own head before collapsing on the floor. The student, sitting near Sandeep, gets up and checks her as some so some other students rush inside the classroom after hearing the gunshot.

The college authorities informed the police following which the college was sealed.

Sandeep’s mother claimed that she got a call from the college authorities, informing her that her daughter had been injured.

“I was not told that she was shot,” Harjinder told reporters, adding that when she reached the college, she found her daughter lying lifeless.

Sandeep was second of Harjinder’s seven daughters. A widow and the sole breadwinner of the family, Harjinder also has a son.

She alleged that Prince had been stalking Sandeep for the past few months and one day, had even reached near their house where he kept standing for for a long time. Sandeep’s elder sister had questioned him after which he left. “I was planning to make a formal complaint against him with the college authorities. My daughter was already engaged. She had no relation with Prince,” she said.

“My daughters are my pride and I have been working to provide them good education. I had high hopes from Sandeep. She had promised to get the family out of poverty. Prince not only killed Sandeep, he also killed all my hopes,” said Harjinder.

She said Sandeep’s elder sister is also pursuing a degree in law from the same college.

Prince hailed from Mallian village in the district. Sarpanch Nachatar Singh said the family had relocated to the village four-five years ago and Prince was the only child of his parents. “It is only today that I have come to know that this family lives in our village. Our village falls on the outskirts of Taran Taran city, and it often happens that families come from outside and live here without the knowledge of the panchayat.”

Police have deployed additional force on the campus and called a forensic team. Investigators are probing how the accused procured the weapon and how it was brought into the college premises, officials said.