Woman shot dead in Patiala gurdwara complex for consuming alcohol

A woman was shot dead for allegedly consuming liquor on the premises of a gurdwara here, police said on Monday.
The accused, who has been arrested, said he committed the act in a fit of anger as his religious sentiments were hurt, police said.
Parwinder Kaur, in her late 30s, was allegedly consuming liquor near the ‘sarovar’ (holy pond) of Dukh Niwaran Sahib gurdwara on Sunday. Nirmaljit Singh Saini, a regular visitor to the gurdwara shot at Kaur multiple times using his licenced revolver, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) arun Sharma said. Saini, a property dealer with no previous criminal records, told gurdwara officials that he was upset over the incidents of sacrilege, including the recent one at Morinda gurdwara, police said.

“Parwinder Kaur was having liquor near the ‘sarovar’ of gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. When the sangat noticed this, they decided to take her to the manager’s office,” Sharma said. As Kaur, who had alcohol addiction, emerged from the gurdwara manager’s room accompanied by police personnel, she was fired at by Saini, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials said.

They said the man surrendered before police voluntarily and handed over his weapon to them. “Saini fired five rounds at the woman with his 32-bore licenced revolver,” police said in an official statement. The SSP said three bullets hit Kaur and she died on the spot. Police said a man also received bullet injury in the incident. He has been hospitalised and is stated to be in a stable condition. Meanwhile, preliminary investigation by the police revealed that Kaur was undergoing treatment for alcohol addiction.