In a shocking and brutal incident, a 23-year-old street food vendor was stabbed to death in broad daylight in Jujhar Nagar village near Kharar, Mohali, on Thursday. The victim, identified as Mukesh Baghel, who ran a golgappa cart, was attacked by a group of youths following a dispute that originated the previous night.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Tragedy
The roots of the conflict trace back to the night of December 31. According to police details, Balbir, the brother-in-law of Mukesh's maternal cousin, was drinking with neighbours when an argument broke out. During this altercation, the neighbours allegedly passed abusive remarks targeting Mukesh's father. This information was relayed to the family by Mukesh's sister over the phone.
The next morning, on Thursday, Mukesh approached the neighbours to discuss the matter. A minor scuffle ensued but was reportedly resolved at that moment. However, the situation took a deadly turn later in the day. Around 1 pm, while Mukesh was on his way to meet his brother-in-law, he was ambushed. A group of 10 to 12 armed youths surrounded him near his village.
The Fatal Attack and Police Response
Mukesh managed to call his brother, Barjesh, to inform him about the attack. Barjesh, along with their father, rushed to the spot to help. Tragically, before they could intervene effectively, the assailants stabbed Mukesh multiple times and fled the scene. The critically injured young man was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Phase 6. Doctors, however, could not save him and declared him dead upon arrival.
The police from the Balongi police station have registered a murder case against unknown assailants under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. The post-mortem examination of the body is scheduled for Friday. Kharar DSP Karn Sandhu confirmed that statements from the victim's father have been recorded and the investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the attackers.
Community in Shock Over Senseless Violence
The violent killing of a young man over a seemingly minor dispute has sent waves of fear and anger through the Jujhar Nagar community. Mukesh, a resident of the same village, lived close to his maternal cousin's family and was known as a local golgappa vendor. The incident highlights the alarming escalation of personal conflicts into fatal violence. The police are now tasked with tracing the large group involved in this premeditated and deadly assault.
