CHANDAULI, Uttar Pradesh – An ex-Army personnel, identified as Gurpreet Singh, who was accused of murdering three individuals in Chandauli district, was killed in a police encounter on Tuesday. The encounter occurred when Singh attempted to escape from police custody during a crime scene reconstruction.
Details of the Encounter
Superintendent of Police Akash Patel stated that two police personnel, including a Sub-Inspector, sustained injuries during the exchange of fire. Gurpreet Singh, aged 46, a resident of Amritsar, Punjab, was allegedly involved in a series of killings within a 24 to 48-hour period in the Chandauli district. Police reported that Singh opened fire on the police team in an attempt to evade capture during the reconstruction of the crime scene in Dariyapur village, Sakaldiha area. The police cordoned off the area, and in the retaliatory firing, Singh sustained gunshot wounds and was subsequently pronounced dead at a local hospital.
The Murders
According to police reports, Singh was accused of randomly killing three people within the Alinagar police station limits. The incidents occurred between May 10 and May 11. One of the victims was a woman, who was shot dead at a private hospital in Chandauli. The other two victims were men, reportedly shot dead on separate passenger trains in the district. Singh had revealed during interrogation that he had been discharged from the Army in 2021 and had recently been working as a security guard in Bihar. He had reportedly developed an alcohol addiction, which led to his dismissal from his job, and had been experiencing significant mental distress and resentment.
The alleged motive behind the killings remains unclear, with Singh reportedly stating that he was consumed by rage and committed the murders randomly without any personal animosity toward the victims. Police are continuing their investigation into the full background and mental state of the accused.
The first alleged murder occurred on a passenger train, where Singh reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation with another passenger before shooting him at close range and throwing the body on the tracks. He then allegedly boarded another train, the Kolkata–Jammu Tawi Express, and shot another man. The third victim was a woman shot dead inside a private hospital.
Singh was apprehended by locals after the hospital murder as he attempted to flee the scene. He was reportedly thrashed by the mob before being handed over to the police. Initial investigations suggest Singh was suffering from psychological disturbance, aggravated by alcoholism, and was acting impulsively.
Authorities have recovered two firearms from Singh’s possession, including one reportedly licensed in his name and another suspected to be illegal. The police are continuing further investigations to ascertain the complete sequence of events and any potential accomplices.
The Chenab Times News Desk