Business angle seen in murder of traders

By Mar T. Supnad

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan- A top police official said they are investigating a business rivalry angle in the shooting to death of two Indian traders and wounding of one in Barangay Tara, Bolinao town on Jan. 25.

The slaying of Jatinger Singh, 34 and Ajit Sohal, 19, who were shot dead by two motorcycle-riding men along the provincial road in Bolinao town brought to 143 the total number of killed Indians in the country.

Also wounded in the Bolinao attack was Malkinder Singh, 35.
The victims who engaged in small money re-lending were all residents of Braganza village in Alaminos City.

But Sr. Supt. Percival Barba, Pangasinan police director, said possible main motive in the incident was business rivalry among the Indian community who engaged most in money re-lending and on selling house appliances through installment scheme.

“It is good that one of the victims survived the attack and he can possibly give statements who were the suspects behind the ambush,” said Col. Barba.

Last year, Barba said, there were four incidents involving attacks on Indian traders but only one was killed.

Police said the victims were all board a motorcycle and just came from nearby Anda town after collecting reportedly money from their clients when they were waylaid by two motorcycle riding men using calibers 45 and 9mm.

Robbery was also seen as one of the motives since the wallets of the victims were reportedly missing and their other personal belongings.

Jatinder Singh and Sohal died on the spot due to multiple gun shot wounds while Malinder was brought to a hospital for treatment.

During a media forum at Ambassador hotel, the Filipino-Indian Chamber of Commerce headed by its director Naresh Mansukhani appealed to the government to look into the rash of killings and kidnappings of Indians in the country which he described as seemingly out of control.

Few days ago, Gucharan Singh, also a money lender, of Mabini Extension, Dinalpuihan, Bataan was also shot dead by motorcycle riding men after collecting money from his clients.

Mansukhani lamented there were incidents where the victims were killed by kidnappers even they (Indian victims) paid huge amounts of money to their kidnappers.