Punjab man shoots officer dead over 10-year-old matter, kills self later

Mangalore Today News Network

Punjab, Mar 30, 2019 : Perturbed over having lost the licence to run a chemist shop about a decade back, a 45-year-old Morinda man shot dead a 35-year-old woman zonal licensing authority of Food and Drug Administration, Punjab, on Friday morning at her office in Kharar. The assailant later shot himself dead as well, Hindustan Times reported.

 

The victim has been identified as Neha Shoree of Sector 6, Panchkula, and her attacker as Balwinder Singh.

“Balwinder was nursing a grudge against Neha since 2009 when his licence of chemist shop in Morinda was cancelled,” said HS Bhullar, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Mohali.

On Friday morning at 11.30 am, Balwinder shot at Neha four times at her office in front of her 5-year-old niece, Aradhaya. Injured Neha was rushed to a private hospital in Phase 6, Mohali, where she was declared brought dead.

“Bua was feeding me when an uncle walked in. He had a fight with her and after that he shot at her,” said Aradhaya, who studies in class 1 and had accompanied Neha to the office for the first time.

Hearing gunshots, the office staff rushed to Neha’s room and saw the accused fleeing. Balwinder tried to flee on his motorcycle but rammed into an electricity pole 50 metres away.

He then shot himself twice with the same weapon he had used to kill Neha. Injured Balwinder was rushed to Kharar civil hospital from where he was referred to the PGIMER, where he was declared brought dead.

According to the eye-witness, a clerk at Neha’s office, the accused entered the office building at around 11:20 am. “He directly entered Neha’s room and sat for a while there. I heard four gunshots. He had shot her in the chest and she collapsed on to the floor,” he said.

“I and my colleagues chased the accused and he threatened to shoot us as well,” he added.

Neha, was working with Foods and Drugs Administration, Punjab, since 2007, after completing her MS in pharmaceutics from NIPER, Mohali. Neha got married three years back to a Panchkula-based banker and has a two-year-old daughter.

A case under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and Arms Act was registered at the Kharar (City) police station.