Ex-soldier kills six members of family including mother in Ambala village over property dispute, three held

AMBALA: An ex-soldier along with his relatives has allegedly killed six members of his family including his mother, brother and brother’s wife and three children at a house built in a Dera (outskirts of village) near Rataur village area of Naraingarh block in Ambala district at about 9.30 pm on Sunday, over an ongoing property dispute. The house is built in Dera nearly 2 kilometres away from Rataur village.
The accused persons also tried to set the dead bodies on fire at the house.
The deceased have been identified as Harish Kumar (35), his wife Sonia (32), mother Surti Devi (about 60), daughter Taru (5), Pari (7) and about 5-months-old infant son Mayank. Harish’s father Om Prakash (68) and Pari (7) were injured in the incident. However, Pari later succumbed to her injuries at PGIMER hospital, Chandigarh.
The accused has been identified as Bhushan Kumar, who is retired from Army service. Bhushan along with his wife and two sons lived in a separate house built within a common wall sharing with Harish’s house in the same Dera.
Ambala superintendent of police (SP) Surender Singh Bhoria said that they have arrested Bhushan, his wife Poonam and his two brothers-in-laws identified as Amal alias Tony and Manish alias Jony of Manglai village in Ambala district. He said they would be produced before the court on Tuesday.
The accused persons used sharp-edged weapons like (axe), axe to commit the murders. Pari was also hurt and burnt along with other family members but as she was alive, the girl jumped into a nearby water tank and was later rescued his grandfather. Om Prakash and Pari were referred for treatment from the local hospital to PGIMER, Sector 12, Chandigarh. At PGIMER, Pari succumbed to her injuries in the evening on Monday, said SP Ambala.
On the complaint of Om Prakash, the Ambala police registered a case against seven accused persons identified as Bhushan, Poonam, Makhan, Prince, Tony, Jony and Baby, under Section 103 (1) (punishment for murder), 109 (1) (attempt to murder), 190 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed), 191 (3) (rioting), 238 (a) (causing disappearance of evidence), 333 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt) and 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, at Naraingarh police station on Monday.
“Bhushan retired from the Indian Army about seven years ago. I have about 2 acres of land. The land was in my and my wife Surti Devi’s name and it was divided between both of my sons. For a long time, Bhushan and his in-laws were pressurising us for naming the entire land in Bhushan’s name, which resulted in dispute among both my sons”, said Om Prakash.
He said he along with his wife lived with Bhushan. “When I returned home at about 9 pm after some work from Naraingarh, at that time, I found Bhushan, his wife Poonam, his sons Makhan and Prince, his brothers-in-law Tony and Jony residents of Manglai village in Ambala district and his sister-in-law Baby at our home. They were discussing the matter related to land. I sat outside with my wife in a chair and started discussing the land issue. Suddenly, at about 9.30 pm, Bhushan along with his relatives and family came armed with gandasi, axe and sticks and said that they will teach us a lesson for not naming the entire land in their name”, said Om Prakash.
“Bhushan attacked my wife Surti on her neck with gandasi and he attempted to attack me also but I managed to save myself by blocking the same with my hands. Then they entered Harish’s house and attacked him on his neck with the gandasi. Baby caught hold of Sonia and Tony attacked her with an axe on her neck. Jony attacked my granddaughter with an axe. Poonam caught hold of my grandson Mayank and Bhushan attacked him with gandasi on his neck”, said Om Prakash, adding that in fear, he fled from there.
Om Prakash said during this time, he reached the tube well of Ramesh Kumar at a distance of about 5 acres from his home and told him about the entire incident. He said he along with Ramesh then went to the spot and saw a big wooden pyre on fire. He said they doused the flames with water and rescued Pari, who was in a water tank. He said he shouted for help when the villagers gathered at the spot. He said Ramesh took him and Pari for treatment at a hospital in Naraingarh, from where they were referred to Chandigarh.
SP Surender Singh said, “The accused tried to burn the dead bodies of all the deceased persons in the night. We received the information at about 12.30 am and the police teams reached the spot immediately. I also inspected the entire crime spot. The teams were tasked immediately to trace the accused person.”
The SP said an SIT has been formed in this case comprising DSP Naraingarh, DSP Ambala Cantonment, SHO Naraingarh, CIA Shahzadpur and cyber cell. We have registered a case on the basis of a complaint by Om Prakash, said the SP.
“Our teams worked hard the whole night and rounded-up Bhushan and his two brothers-in-law. Further investigation is ongoing and more information will be shared in time”, said SP Surender Singh.
The SP said in the evening they received the information about the death of Pari also. He said the post-mortems of all the deceased persons were conducted and they were also cremated.
The SP said that the family was living at a Dera in Rataur village for about 20 to 25 years and they have nearly 2.25 acres of land and the two brothers had a property related dispute which resulted in this incident.
The half-burnt bodies of the deceased persons were taken to civil hospital at Ambala Cantonment by the police and the post-mortems would be conducted by the board of doctors.
As per local sources, the accused man committed the crime over an ongoing property dispute. The family had nearly 2.25 acres of land which was divided among both the two brothers, but there was a dispute ongoing related to 2 kanal land adjoining Harish’s house.