PATIALA: Police reported on Monday that a lady was fatally shot for allegedly drinking on the grounds of a gurdwara.
Varun Sharma, the senior superintendent of police in Patiala, said that the event happened on Sunday night.
According to authorities, the woman, Parminder Kaur, was drinking alcohol close to the gurdwara's "sarovar" (holy water tank).
A frequent visitor to the gurdwara shot the 32-year-old resident of Urban Estate Phase I multiple times.
"Parminder Kaur was having liquor near the sarovar of Gurdwara Dukhniwarn Sahib. When the sangat noticed this, they decided to take her to the manager's office. However, one person present there shot her in a fit of anger," Sharma said.
"He fired five rounds at the woman with his 32-bore licenced revolver," an official statement said.
Sagar Malhotra, the sewadar (attendant), attempted to stop her, but this caused them to argue. After that, another sewadar shot her as he led her into the gurdwara manager's office. Parminder Kaur was sent to a hospital but passed away en route.
Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Varun Sharma said, "Prima facie it seems Saini’s religious sentiments were hurt and he fired five rounds at the woman with his 32-bore licensed revolver of this four hit her and she died on the spot, while one bullet hit Malhotra and is injured but out of danger as he was taken to Rajindra Medical Collage and Hospital.’’
"It seems Saini took this step in the heat of the movement as he was regular visitor to the gurdwara and has no criminal back ground, the women was unemployed and alcoholi. We traced her back ground and found a prescription in her bag which was of a private de-addiction centre at Patiala."
"They told the police that she was undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction and was having mood swings. We are trying to locate the family members or any relatives as no one has come forward to claim her body, as further investigations are going on,’’ said Sharma and also stated that her phone had been forwarded for technical analysis.
He added that the accused had taken this drastic action in the heat of the moment despite never knowing the woman."The accused Singh has been arrested and the weapon used in the crime has been recovered. The CCTV footage in the gurdwara has been scanned.’’
The shooting also injured Sagar Malhotra, who is receiving medical care at the Rajendra hospital in Patiala. For a post-mortem examination, police have transported Parminder Kaur's body to Rajendra hospital.
Police reported that although Kaur was rushed to a hospital, the doctors there ruled her dead.
According to sources, a man who was hurt in the event was taken to the hospital. His status is reported to be stable.
According to officials, the suspect, a property trader with no history of criminal activity, has been detained by police.
In the meantime, more police have been stationed close to the gurdwara's grounds. At the Anaj Mandi Police station, a case of murder and a weapons violation has been filed.
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