Gunmen kill Indian money lender in Cotabato town

Cotabato province map. INQUIRER FILES

MIDSAYAP, Cotabato – Unidentified gunmen shot dead an Indian money lender and injured his lady companion in a shooting along the national highway here on Tuesday morning.

Lt. Col. Joihn Miridel Calinga, Midsayap police chief, identified the victim as Juty Singh, a businessman and money lender, who lives in Barangay Bolocawon of Pigcawayan town, Cotabato.

His back-rider, Rojane Pantua Arandilla, was critically injured in the shooting that happened at around 10 a.m., Calinga said.

Citing initial investigation, Calinga said the couple was on board a Honda Click motorbike driven by Singh. They were heading toward Midsayap town proper from Datu Piang, Maguindanao del Sur, when two men on separate motorbikes flagged them down.

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One of the suspects grabbed the Indian national’s sling bag that contained his money collection but he resisted, prompting the men to shoot him.

Calinga said police probers believed the motive of the shooting was robbery.

Arandilla is now getting medical attention at a local hospital.

Singh is the fourth Indian money lender killed in the area since November last year.

On Nov. 27, 2023, Arshad Taraz Khan was shot dead at about 7 p.m. in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

Also on Nov. 27, gunmen ambushed and Jaspreet Singh in Barangay Damalusay, Datu Paglas, Maguindanao del Sur. Two weeks earlier, gunmen also killed money lender Laxman Singh in Buluan, Maguindanao del Sur.