A 35-year-old Sikh businessman was shot dead by two masked assailants at his car washing centre in the Milak Khanam area of Uttar Pradesh’s Rampur district on Saturday afternoon.
The incident, captured by CCTV cameras, led to protests by the victim’s family members. They became agitated when the police arrived and raised allegations against those they suspected of being involved in the murder. A crowd gathered at the spot, and police personnel had to intervene to calm the family. The police took custody of the body and sent it to the district hospital for a post-mortem examination. Investigators have started examining the CCTV footage to identify the assailants. Police are also investigating whether the murder was linked to a dispute over money and land involving the woman Navjot married in court about a year ago. A few days after the wedding, his wife died after allegedly consuming poison. Following her death, her family filed a dowry death case against him. He spent some time in jail before returning home. Navjot was the only son of Nishan Singh. He also had a sister who lived in New Zealand. He had no children from his first marriage. The police are examining all possible angles, including the alleged property dispute, while continuing their efforts to identify those who carried out the shooting.
Police are investigating whether the murder was linked to a property dispute involving his marriage to a 50-year-old widowed relative.
Navjot had married five years ago, according to local residents.
The victim, Navjot Singh, son of Nishan Singh, was inside his centre in Tahkala village around 4pm when the two assailants arrived and opened fire at close range. He sustained four bullet injuries and collapsed. Hearing the gunshots, family members and villagers rushed to the spot and found him lying in a pool of blood. He added that a case would be registered and legal action taken on the basis of the complaint submitted by the family.
Milak Khanam station house officer (SHO) Naresh Kumar said the police were searching for the accused.
When the sons learnt that their mother had left home with Navjot, they returned to the village and took her into their custody. They also filed a case against him. However, the woman gave a statement in court in favour of Navjot, following which he received relief from the court.
