Ludhiana: She took him in when he lost his parents and raised him, but allegedly met her end at his hands. Manjit Kaur, 65, was allegedly strangled to death by her grandson over a property dispute in Amargarh Kalera village near Jagraon.Her family initially believed she had died of natural causes and cremated her, but suspicion arose after one of her daughters, aunt of the accused, flagged frequent arguments between the woman and her grandson over property.The suspicion led the family to check CCTV footage from a nearby house, which showed the accused allegedly strangling the woman as she lay on a cot. Police have arrested the accused, Gurkirat Singh, 26.Manjit Kaur was Gurkirat’s maternal grandmother. Police said she had raised him after his parents died when he was around three and a half years old. A few years ago, she had also helped arrange his marriage to a woman from Ferozepur.Sub-inspector Sukhwinder Singh, SHO of Sadar Jagraon police station, said Manjit was found dead on the cot inside her house on Sept 3. She was alone at the time, while Gurkirat had gone with his family to his in-laws’ house in Zira, Ferozepur.Nearby residents found Manjit dead and informed Gurkirat, following which the family cremated her the next day.The SHO said some neighbours later informed Manjit’s relatives that Gurkirat often argued with her over the property and had allegedly been pressuring her to transfer ownership of the house to him. The relatives then decided to examine CCTV footage from a neighbouring house.“They were shocked to see Gurkirat allegedly strangling the woman while she was lying on the cot. The footage also showed her trying to resist, but she could not overpower him,” the SHO said.The relatives immediately informed the police, following which Gurkirat was detained.During interrogation, police said, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime. According to the SHO, Gurkirat told police that he had gone to his in-laws’ house with a plan to kill his grandmother. After dropping his wife and children there, he returned to the village, allegedly strangulated Manjit and then went back to Zira.Police said Gurkirat told them he had been pressuring his grandmother to transfer ownership of the house to him, but she was reluctant. He allegedly then decided to kill her.A murder case has been registered against Gurkirat on the complaint of Manjit’s relative Kulwinder Kaur. The accused works as a labourer.
