Petrol pump worker shot dead, police claim robbery attempt

An employee of a petrol pump was shot dead and another seriously injured with a gunshot injury on his face by three armed persons at Kaler Mangat village falling under the Majitha assembly constituency here.

While the police claimed that it was a robbery bid, Bikram Singh Majithia, former Punjab minister and senior SAD leader, termed it an attempt to target Jodh Singh Samra, a SAD leader and SGPC member, who owns the petrol station.

The police have registered a case of murder and attempt to murder charges in this connection. They said they have some vital clues in the case and a hunt was launched to identity and arrest the perpetrators.

The deceased was identified as Gautam Kumar, a UP migrant, and the injured, as Amit, who was admitted to Sri Guru Ram Dass Hospital at Vallah. Gautam suffered a bullet injury in the chest and doctors declared him dead on arrival. Amit suffered a gunshot injury on the face and is stated to be serious.

Tejinder Singh, a resident of the Kathunangal road and co-owner of the petrol station, said he runs a petrol pump (Bharat filling station) at Kaler Mangat village. He said he had employed three persons — Gautam, Amit and Arpan. He said as per the daily routine, he was going to the petrol pump to give dinner to them at around 8.30pm.

He said the petrol pump was closed and a car stopped near the station. Three persons with faces covered tried to forcibly open the office. They shouted that it was Samra’s petrol pump and they wanted to procure fuel for their bike.

He said as his employees did not open the office, the miscreants got infuriated and shot at Gautam who suffered a bullet injury in the chest and fell on the ground. The second gunfire pierced through the door and hit Amit’s face. He said when they raised an alarm, the accused fled the scene.

Maninder Singh, SSP, Amritsar (Rural), said they have vital clues in the case and assured that the case would be cracked with the arrest of the suspects. Six police teams have been constituted to check the CCTV trail of the accused and arrest them. He said a preliminary probe indicated that the incident was a robbery bid.

However, Majithia alleged that the accused parked their car on the road and had their faces covered. “The prime motive of the attack was to target Jodh Singh Samra as he was supposed to visit the pump,” he alleged while condemning the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab.

He alleged opposition leaders were being targeted by the current dispensation for exposing their failures. He also criticised the registration of an FIR against LoP Partap Singh Bajwa.

Amritsar