A psycho, who committed three murders on a running train and in a hospital, was killed in a police encounter here late Monday night.
Chandauli SP Akash Patel said, “The incident occurred when the police took the accused to recreate the crime scene. He suddenly snatched a police officer’s pistol and opened fire while attempting to flee.”
In retaliatory firing, the police shot the accused in the head and chest. He later succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at the district hospital.
The SP said, “At midnight on Monday, teams from the local police, GRP, and SWAT teams took the accused to the railway line near Dariyapur village to recreate the crime scene. During the process, the accused snatched an officer’s pistol and opened fire, injuring two policemen. In retaliation, the police teams shot the accused in the chest and head. He was rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared him dead.”
The accused, Gurpreet Singh (45), had committed three murders in Chandauli within a span of 26 hours. The modus operandi was identical in each instance: a single gunshot fired directly at the temple.
Gurpreet committed his first murder on Sunday (May 10) at around 7 am, shooting a young man on a passenger train.
The second murder occurred at 2 am on Sunday, when he shot a youth near the toilet on the Jammu Tawi Express. The third murder took place at 8:30 am on Monday when the accused entered a private hospital and shot a woman lying on a bed, once again targeting the temple.
While attempting to flee after killing the woman, a mob apprehended Gurpreet and assaulted him before handing him over to the police. Due to injuries sustained in the incident, the police took him to a hospital for treatment. When police asked him why he killed the woman, he said, “I am the king of my mind. I lose my senses after consuming alcohol. I roam around and do whatever I feel like. I have killed not one, but two or three people.”
The police were taken aback by his confession. Upon rigorous questioning, he confessed to all his crimes.
Originally from Amritsar, he had retired from the Army six years ago and had been living without a permanent residence. Although he was married, he refused to provide any details about his wife or children.
Police said the investigation revealed that Gurpreet would lose his mental balance after consuming alcohol, often leading to violent confrontations. He committed two of the three murders after such altercations. Initial investigations suggest he was suffering from psychological instability, which reportedly worsened after he was sacked from his job.
Police said Gurpreet went to Ara, Bihar, on April 29 to work as a guard. After working there for a few days, his drinking habits and subsequent confrontations became apparent. He was fired from this job as well, which worsened his mental stability, turning him into a psycho. He had been aimlessly travelling by train to various places, including Prayagraj and Chandauli, since May 9.