Kapurthala, July 11: A trusted artisan who had been working at a residence in Kapurthala’s upscale Sunny Side area on Mall Road for nearly three weeks allegedly turned on his employers, brutally assaulting an elderly man and locking the couple in a room before escaping with gold, diamonds, and cash. The Kapurthala City police have launched a massive manhunt across the region to apprehend the suspect.
The local police identified the accused as Ranjit Singh, a resident of Rajapur village, whom the family had known and trusted from previous assignments. Investigators stated that the violent encounter took place inside the home when the owner, Pawan Kumar, and his wife were resting in their private quarters.
The suspect reportedly entered the room armed with an iron rod, immediately seized the couple’s mobile phones, and began striking Kumar over the head. City Kapurthala Station House Officer Amandeep asserted that the situation escalated further when Kumar’s wife tried to scream for help, prompting Singh to draw a revolver, press it against her head, and threaten her life.
The perpetrator forced the injured couple into a room and locked them inside from the outside, leaving them trapped for nearly five hours. During this period, the assailant ransacked the property, smashed open lockers, and filled a bag with valuable jewellery and critical family documents.
The incident was discovered when the couple’s son, Rohit, returned home with his son to find the front doors wide open. Upon unlocking the inner room, they found the elderly couple in a severe state of shock and physical trauma, immediately notifying the local authorities.
The suspect’s aggressive behaviour apparently continued even after he left the crime scene. Pawan Kumar declared in his official complaint that the painter later sent a chilling voice message to his son’s phone, threatening the family with dire consequences if they went to the law.
Senior officers affirmed that multiple raiding teams have been dispatched to Rajapur village and other suspected hideouts. Police teams are currently reviewing neighborhood CCTV recordings and digital tracking data to pinpoint the suspect’s escape route, expressing confidence that an arrest is imminent.
