In a dramatic turn of events on Saturday in Punjab’s Jalandhar city, police booked IAS officer Babita Kaler, her husband Stephen Kaler, and their private gunman for attempted murder. The incident followed a heated argument over the dumping of sand on a residential plot in the Chhoti Baradari area. One person was injured in the leg during the scuffle and taken to a civil hospital.
The Dispute That Triggered Gunfire
According to police reports, the issue began over sand being dumped for landfilling on a vacant residential plot. The workers involved, acting on the instructions of the plot owner, were confronted by the Kalers, who live nearby. What started as a verbal disagreement quickly escalated. The police said that after an intense argument, the couple’s gunman allegedly opened fire from his service revolver, injuring Harpreet Singh, a worker at the site.
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Charges Under New Criminal Law
A case has been registered under Sections 109 (abetment of murder), 115(2) (causing hurt), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with charges under the Arms Act. The gunman, identified as Shubh Karan Singh, has been arrested. Police say the investigation is ongoing to determine the extent of involvement of Babita Kaler and her husband in provoking the incident.
Two Versions of What Happened
While the victim’s side claimed the gunman fired following orders from the IAS officer and her husband, the Kalers offered a different version. Stephen Kaler said he had gone inside to make a phone call when the workers allegedly misbehaved with the gunman and tried to overpower him. He claimed the firing was done in self-defence.
Power, Privilege, and Violence in Civic Disputes
This incident once again raises concerns about the misuse of private security personnel and power dynamics in land and property disputes. As the matter involves a senior bureaucrat, the case is likely to be closely watched. Civil society members and legal observers have urged for a transparent probe without political or administrative interference.
