Punjab: Woman shot dead for consuming liquor in Patiala Gurudwara premises

A Gurdwara staff who was escorting the woman also suffered injuries in the shootout and a realtor who fired the shots was detained later.

Patiala (Punjab):A woman was fatally shot and a man was injured in a firing reportedly triggered by the woman consuming liquor on the premises of Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib in Patiala, on Sunday evening. The deceased woman was identified as 32-year-old Parminder Kaur, a resident of Urban Estate Phase I, Patiala.

According to official sources, the injured was identified as Sagar Malhotra, an employee at the Gurudwara, and is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital. The accused has been arrested by the police. Police said Parminder Kaur was allegedly consuming alcohol in the Gurudwara premises when the Sagar Malhotra tried to stop her. The agitated woman broke the liquor bottle and attacked Sagar with that broken bottle. Sagar decided to escort the woman to the manager's office and deal with her before she could harm anyone else.

An onlooker in the vicinity pulled out his pistol and sprayed bullets at the woman. Before Sagar could realise what was happening, the woman collapsed and a bullet graced him as well. Both of them were immediately rushed to a hospital in the vicinity. Doctors declared Parminder brought dead on arrival.

The condition of Sagar who is undergoing treatment in that hospital is said to be stable, police said quoting the doctors treating him. The police have registered a case based on the statement given by Sagar and have begun an investigation into the incident. Police have arrested the accused who is a property dealer.

Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma said that Parminder Kaur was shot multiple times by the accused identified as Nirmaljit Singh Saini, a regular visitor to Gurudwara Dukhniwaran Sahib. Another man present there was also injured in the incident and was hospitalised. "Saini fired five rounds at the woman with his 32-bore licenced revolver," a police statement read.