Ludhiana: Auto driver killed in dispute over picking up passengers in Khanna, 2 booked

An auto-rickshaw driver lost his life following a violent clash over passengers near National Highway, Libra village, in Khanna, police said. The incident has sparked outrage among the local transport community.

The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh of Machhiwara and Rajveer Singh, alias Raja.

The deceased, 58-year-old Kaur Mohammad Gulzar, a resident of Khanna, was attacked by two individuals after a dispute over picking up passengers. The accused allegedly assaulted Gulzar and injured him critically using an interlock tile. He succumbed to his injuries on the night of March 24 at DMC Hospital, Ludhiana.

According to police, the incident occurred near a mosque in Libra village where Gulzar had parked his auto while waiting for passengers. Around the same time, Manpreet arrived and picked up two women passengers. Gulzar objected, saying he had been waiting longer, and the passengers should have taken his auto instead. The argument escalated and Manpreet called his relative Rajveer to the spot.

Both men allegedly attacked Gulzar and hit him in the stomach with a heavy interlock tile. The injured driver was initially taken to Khanna civil hospital and was later referred to a government hospital in Chandigarh. He was eventually admitted to DMC Ludhiana, where he died during treatment.

Gulzar was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his elderly mother, wife, and two children.

Station house officer (SHO) of Sadar police station Sukhwinderpal Singh, said a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 351(2), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Both accused are absconding, and police teams are conducting raids to arrest them.