S.D. Anand, J. - (1.) THE appellant was convicted by the learned Trial Judge on a charge of having murdered none -else or other than his own mother Angrej Kaur as he laboured an apprehension that she would give away her agricultural holding to her daughters and would exclude him from that property thereby.
(2.) ANGREJ Kaur, a widow, owned 7 -8 Killas of land situated in village Gharangana which she had leased out to Mishra Singh son of Pritam Singh resident of village Gharangana. She and her (then unmarried) daughter Ranjit Kaur used to reside with the family of PW1 Jagtar Singh, who is her nephew. The marriage of Ranjit Kaur was to be solemnised on 1.9.2001. On 27.8.2001, Angrej Kaur, her brother Labh Singh (father of PW1 -Jagtar Singh), and Jagtar Singh went over to the house of Mishra Singh lessee in order to realise the lease amount. Jagtar Singh drove the scooter on which Angrej Kaur was the pillion rider. Labh Singh followed them on a cycle. After the completion of the assignment, the trio came out of the house of Mishra Singh at about 8.30 AM. Just at that point of time, Swaran Kaur wife of appellant Amrik Singh and Amrik Singh himself came out of a place near the shop of one Nirbhay Singh which was at a distance of about 6 -7 karms from the house of the Mishra Singh. Swaran Kaur announced that the trio was proceeding. She exhorted Amrik Singh -appellant to ensure that the trio would not be allowed to get away alive. Thereupon, appellant - Amrik Singh fired two shots, one out of which hit the left thigh of Jagtar Singh and other other hit the arm and leg of Angrej Kaur. Both the scooter riders i.e. Angrej Kaur and Jagtar Singh fell off of the vehicle and upon the ground. Thereupon, Amrik Singh also gave a kick blow on the abdomen of Angrej Kaur. He also hit her on her face and other parts of the body with the butt of the pistol. On account of the fear generated by the occurrence, Jagtar Singh lay motionless and feigned that he was dead. All through this period, Labh Singh kept on raising a raula. Thereafter, appellant - Amrik Singh and his wife Swaran Kaur fled the spot.
(3.) LABH Singh transported his son Jagtar Singh to Civil Hospital, Mansa, by arranging a vehicle from the village; while Angrej Kaur died at the spot itself.;