Chandigarh: A head constable of the Chandigarh Police who was allegedly shot dead inside his house by his teenage son had told the youth to wait until he turned 21 before marrying his girlfriend, police have said.
Nitin Singh, posted with the accounts branch at police headquarters, was found dead at his government residence in Sector 22 on Friday with a gunshot wound to the head. A country-made pistol was recovered from the spot. His son, Armaan, who was at home at the time, has been arrested.
According to the preliminary investigation, Armaan had been pressing his parents to allow him to marry his girlfriend at once. They insisted that he wait until the age of 21, the legal minimum for men in India. He also demanded that the young woman be brought to the house and asked for money for his needs, including a reported demand of Rs 10 lakh. Both requests were refused.
Sector 17 Station House Officer Sudesh Kumar told PTI: “On Thursday evening, Armaan had an altercation with his parents. He wanted to marry a girl and wanted to marry her immediately. But his parents insisted that he could go ahead with the marriage only after he turns 21. Armaan was forcing his parents to bring the girl to their house, a demand which they turned down. He also demanded money for his various needs from his parents.”
Mr Kumar said the accused “showed no remorse.”
Police said that after the shooting, Armaan allegedly tried to harm his mother by grabbing her by the neck. She broke free, ran to the rooftop and raised an alarm. Neighbours then alerted the police. A neighbour said Armaan initially tried to claim that an outsider had entered the house and attacked his father.
The Times of India, citing police, reported that the shooting took place around 4:30 a.m. while Nitin Singh was asleep, that the mother, Monika, is an Assistant Sub-Inspector with the UT police, and that the firearm stalled when the son allegedly turned it on her before he tried to strangle her. Those additional details have not been independently confirmed in the same form by all agencies.
Armaan was already out on bail in a separate case from earlier this year. Police said he was driving a friend’s Mahindra Thar when it hit two brothers on a motorcycle at the Kalagram light point in Manimajra, killing both. He was arrested in that case and later released on bail.
Nitin Singh’s body was found on the bed after neighbours forced the door open. Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur visited the house. A murder case has been registered, along with provisions of the Arms Act relating to the illegal weapon. Police said they will seek remand to establish where the country-made pistol was obtained.
Further investigation is under way.
