AMRITSAR: Militants shot dead Harbhajan Singh, 24,son of Punjab Minister of State for Social Welfare, Gurmej Singh, at his farm in Ghuman pura village, about 15 kilometers from here.
The militants, stated to be three in number and carrying revolvers, reached the farm on bicycles and shot Harbhajan Singh dead from point-blank range. The body of Harbhajan Singh was found lying in a pool of blood by a labourer. The body bore six bullet injuries, including one in the head.
Harbhajan Singh was hit twice in the abdomen, the right leg, right thigh and the right hand. One bullet was taken from his thigh and handed over to the police by the doctor who performed the postmortem.
Villagers said that they heard the revolver shots. However it was alleged, the Chhehart police reached the spot and removed the body to the mortuary of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, here. The body was handed over to Harbhajan Singh’s relatives after the postmortem.
Harbhajan Singh leaves behind his widow, Gurbachan Kaur, and a two-year-old son, Karanbir,
According to a member of the minister’s family, Harbhajan Singh as was his wont, had gone to his arm on scooter from his residence in Kennedy Avenue, here. He reportedly spent some time at a tea shop at Chhehart before proceeding to his farm, Although the minister’s residence is provided with tight security, Harbhajan Singh never took along with him any security guard.
Gurmej Singh was away to Chandigarh when the killing took place.
The killing is being viewed as a lape on the part of those entrusted with the security of the family member of the minister. For some unexplained reason, no security personnel accompanied the minister’s family members whenever they moved around the city.
In an earlier attack involving Chief Minister Beant Singh’s colleagues or their relatives, the Minister of State for Public Health, Mohinder jit Singh Bitta, was seriously injured and three of his security guards and a child was killed when a car bomb blasted in Amritsar, May last.
In the second week of June, the body of the brother of Gulzar Singh, Minister of State for Labour who was kidnapped was found near Bhatinda,
Elsewhere in Punjab, eight militants were among 11 persons killed and more than Rs2 lakh was looted during this time.
A police party shot dead an unidentified militant in an encounter near the Guru Nanak Thermal Plant in Bhatinda town. An AK 56 rifle along with ammunition were found on him.
A militant, identified as Major Singh, was killed in an encounter with a police naka party near Sahwala village in Ferozepur district. An AK-47 rifle was found at the site of encounter.
Another unidentified militant was shot dead in an encounter with a police naka party near Dhulkot village in Faridkot district. A .12 bore barrel gun was found with the slain militant.
An unidentified militant was shot dead in an encounter with a police party near Chuhar Chak village, in Chgraon police district, a self-loading rifle was found .
Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 7, 1992
