A 40-year-old factory owner was allegedly murdered with a sharp-edged weapon inside his own factory in Ludhiana’s Har Gobind Nagar, triggering a police investigation.
The deceased has been identified as Jatinder Rajput, who ran a garment-printing business in the area under the jurisdiction of the Haibowal police station.
Police said Jatinder suffered serious injuries to his neck and was found dead inside the factory. His friend, who has allegedly been identified as the accused, fled the scene after the attack and remains absconding.
Dispute Breaks Out During Drinking Session
According to preliminary information, the incident took place on Friday night when Jatinder was reportedly at his factory with some friends and they were drinking together.
During the gathering, an argument allegedly broke out between Jatinder and one of his friends. The disagreement reportedly escalated rapidly, with the accused allegedly attacking Jatinder with a sharp-edged weapon.
The attacker allegedly struck Jatinder on the neck, causing fatal injuries. He reportedly died at the spot.
The accused then allegedly fled the factory. Police said his mobile phone has remained switched off since the incident, making it difficult to immediately trace his whereabouts.
Brother Discovers Blood-Soaked Body
The murder came to light the following morning when Jatinder’s brother reached the factory.
According to Haibowal SHO Jasveer Singh, police received information about the incident at around 9:30 am.
When the victim’s brother entered the factory, he reportedly found Jatinder lying dead on the first floor, with blood around his neck.
He immediately informed the police, following which senior officers and a forensic team reached the spot.
Forensic Team Collects Evidence
Police and forensic personnel examined the crime scene and collected evidence that could help establish exactly how the murder took place.
The body was taken into custody and sent to the Civil Hospital mortuary for post-mortem examination.
Police said the identity of the alleged accused has been established and teams have been conducting raids to locate him.
What Triggered the Murder?
While police suspect that an argument between the two friends led to the fatal assault, the exact reason behind the dispute remains unclear.
Investigators are now attempting to establish what happened during the drinking session and what exactly triggered the confrontation.
The circumstances leading up to the killing, the weapon used in the attack and the accused’s movements after the crime are among the aspects being examined as part of the investigation.
Manhunt Underway for Absconding Accused
The alleged accused remains on the run, while police teams are carrying out searches at possible locations.
Investigators are also attempting to trace the accused through available technical and other evidence.
For now, the case has left questions surrounding what began as a gathering among friends and ended with a fatal attack inside a factory.