An accused in the high-profile Gurlal Brar murder case was shot dead in broad daylight outside the Mohali district court complex on Wednesday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the busy court premises and raising serious questions about security.
The deceased was identified as Gurvinder Singh, a resident of Rurki Kham village. He had come to the court along with his wife to attend a hearing in a case registered against him under the NDPS Act. The shooting took place shortly after he exited the court building.
Eyewitnesses said two assailants arrived on a motorcycle and intercepted Gurvinder Singh near the court gate. In a chilling turn of events, one of the attackers reportedly shook hands with him before pulling out a weapon and firing multiple rounds at point-blank range, targeting his face and head. Gurvinder Singh collapsed on the spot, while the attackers fled immediately on the same motorcycle.
Panic gripped the court complex following the incident as lawyers, litigants, and visitors scrambled for safety. Police officials later recovered seventeen empty bullet shells from the scene, indicating the intensity of the firing.
Senior police officers, including Ropar Range DIG Nanak Singh and Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh, reached the spot soon after the shooting. A heavy police deployment was made in and around the court complex to maintain law and order and to prevent any further untoward incident. Forensic teams were called in to collect evidence, and CCTV footage from nearby areas is being examined.
Gurvinder Singh was an accused in the murder of Gurlal Brar, the former president of the Student Organisation of Panjab University. Gurlal Brar was shot dead on October 10, 2020, outside City Emporium Mall in Chandigarh. He was also the cousin of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, a factor that had added to the sensitivity of the case.
Police have registered a case and launched a manhunt to identify and arrest the attackers. Investigators are probing possible gang rivalry, personal enmity, or revenge as motives behind the killing. Authorities are also examining whether the assailants had prior information about Gurvinder Singh’s court appearance.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over security at judicial complexes, particularly in cases involving organised crime and high-risk accused. Further investigation is underway.