Chandigarh lawyer held for firing at landlord’s wife during eviction

A 67-year-old advocate was arrested after allegedly opening fire at his landlord's wife during a court-ordered eviction in Chandigarh's Sector 42. The woman sustained facial splinter injuries, while police overpowered the accused as he attempted to reload his licensed weapon

Chandigarh: Police have arrested a 67-year-old advocate for opening fire at the wife of his landlord when the latter came with a court order for the eviction of a flat in Sector 42 here, officials said on Sunday. Manvinder Kaur, wife of Rajinder Singh, suffered splinter injuries to her face after their tenant J P S Chadha fired with his licensed weapon, police said.

Chadha had a dispute with his landlord over the flat, where he had been residing for the past 36 years. The incident occurred on Saturday, when Manvinder Kaur, along with a court bailiff and police, arrived at the flat to execute the eviction order.

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However, Chadha did not open the door despite knocks. Police said the court had authorised the officials to break open the lock and hand over the possession of the property to the landlord. When police broke open the lock, the advocate came to the balcony with a firearm and opened fire, and the splinters hit Manvinder in the face.

When Chadha tried to reload his weapon, police overpowered him and took him into custody. Manvinder was rushed to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMR), where she is undergoing treatment. Chadha’s son claimed there was no court order to take possession of the flat, and alleged that some people attempted to enter the house forcibly.

The family claimed that they had a stay order in their favour for the flat, where they had been living for the past 36 years, with the next hearing scheduled for August 3. However, police said the eviction proceedings were being carried out in accordance with a court order.