Indian trader killed in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY – An Indian national engaged in money-lending in North Cotabato was shot dead Monday while on board a motorbike in Makilala town, police said Tuesday.

Supt. Bernard Tayong, speaking for the North Cotabato police office, said Indian businessman Dhaliwal Jaswinder, a resident of Barangay Boragay here, was driving his motorbike from Makilala town on his way here when he was shot at 11:45 am. Tuesday.

Chief Inspector Johnny Rick Felongco Medel, Makilala town police chief, said in a radio interview that the victim’s companion, Harpreet Singh, also a money-lender, and who was riding on the back of the same motorcycle with Jaswinder at the time of the shooting, was a person of interest.

Singh had rushed Jaswinder, who was hit on his neck, to the hospital where the latter was pronounced dead on arrival. Police had invited Singh for questioning.