Clash in Punjab’s Goindwal jail: FIR against 7, judicial probe initiated

Those involved in Sunday's fight, which left two dead and several injured, belonged to the Lawrence Bishnoi and the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gangs, say police.

File photo of Tarn Taran SSP Gurmeet S. Chauhan | Twitter: @gkirat222_ptac

Chandigarh: A judicial probe and a criminal investigation have been initiated in Sunday’s fight among inmates at the Goindwal Sahib Central jail in Tarn Taran, Punjab,  which left two men dead and at least half a dozen injured, said the police Monday. 

The deceased have been identified as Mandeep Singh alias Toofan, and Manmohan Singh alias Mohna, both of whom were in the jail for their alleged involvement in the killing of Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala. 

At least 25 accused in the Moosewala murder have been lodged in the Goindwal jail. The clash took place at around 3 pm on Sunday when these inmates were taken out of their barracks according to their routine. The fight ensued almost immediately and turned into a violent clash.

Talking to ThePrint, Tarn Taran SSP Gurmeet Singh Chauhan said that on the basis of the report from the Goindwal jail authorities, they have lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against seven persons for the killing. 

He added that the Tarn Taran sessions court has directed the Khadoor Sahib judicial magistrate to start a probe.

Chauhan said an internal enquiry will also be conducted by the jails department to find out how the inmates were able to access sharp-edged pieces of metals which were used to fatally injure the victims.

“The inmates probably keep on gathering sharp-edged metal pieces from gates, grilles etc., which seem to have been used as weapons in Sunday’s clash,” he said.

Clash of gangs

He said those involved in the fight belonged to the Lawrence Bishnoi, and the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gangs. He said the two groups had allegedly joined hands for Moosewala’s murder but ever since their members have been lodged in the jail, differences have cropped up among them which may have led to the fight.

Chauhan said that in their report to the police, the Goindwal jail authorities have not made any mention of a prior incident which could have alerted them to Sunday’s clash.

He said that the FIR has been registered against seven inmates but more persons could be added during the course of the investigation. Those named in the FIR include Manpreet Bhau who was also injured in the clash and was in the hospital Sunday evening but has been discharged and is back in the jail. The others named in this case are Sachin Bhiwani, Ankit Sirsa, Rajinder, Kashish, Arshad Khan and Malkeet Mama Keeta.

Meanwhile, a Facebook post ostensibly of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, who is said to have masterminded Moosewala’s killing, claiming responsibility for the murder while another Facebook post of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria promising to avenge the jail killings are doing the rounds on social media. These are unverified posts.

Chauhan said police do not take such posts seriously anymore because multiple persons are using multiple accounts with pictures of these gangsters, making claims and counterclaims. 

(Edited by Smriti Sinha)