The murder of Gurdial Singh, Assembly poll candidate from Valtoha against Congress’ Gurchet Bhullar, appears headed for a controversy even as two of the main accused, Major Singh and Dalbir Singh, have surrendered to the police.Former CM P.S. Badal today released Gurdial’s application for security submitted to the ADGP. The application reveals his fears of a threat to his life ‘‘engineered by Bhullar’’. The police and CM Amarinder Singh, however, denied any political angle to the murder. They said the killing was a result of personal enmity. IG Security Rajinder Singh said during the Assembly polls, security was provided at the local level and was later withdrawn. Gurdial’s application, he said, was received as a matter of routine and the department didn’t feel security was warranted.The Bhikiwind police have filed an FIR on a statement by Gurdial’s brother Naunihal Singh. It names Bhullar and Tarlok Singh Chakuwalia, who contested the Assembly polls from Tarn Taran against Adesh Pratap Kairon.Naunihal, in his statement, said: ‘‘The murderers were saying that Bhullar and Chakuwalia had ordered to kill them off.’’ The main accused are Bakhshish Singh, his brother Major Singh, Bakshsih’s sons Dalbir and Jasbir alias Jassa, and Major’s sons Surjit and Inderjit.Gurdial’s application says: ‘‘I was provided security cover by SSP Tarn Taran which Gurchet Singh is endeavouring to have withdrawn. It is therefore requested that, considering the facts in my plea, I and my family be provided foolproof security cover.’’According to Milkha Singh, his brother Gurcharan Bittu — Gurdial’s private gunman — had identified three of the accused, including Jasbir Singh. ‘‘We were following them on a scooter. Gurdial Singh and other victims had gone to meet the DSP, Patti, and I had some personal work with Gurdial Singh,’’ Milkha said. ‘‘We reached the spot just five minutes after the incident, and my brother Bittu was lying in a pool of blood.’’ Bittu was shifted to CMC, Ludhiana.
