Brothers’ families stand together in grief

Ponty Chadha's son Manpreet alias Monty stood next to Hardeep's son Bikramjit at Gurdwara Rakabganj. Together, they received the guests who arrived for the antim ardas (prayer meet) of their fathers.

Ponty and Hardeep were killed in a shootout at their Chhattarpur farmhouse on November 17. Police have said the there was a clash between the aides of the two brothers, and both parties opened fire.

But despite the divide between the brothers, the two families presented a united front at the prayer meet on Thursday.

Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee President Paramjit Singh Sarna, who was mediating between the two brothers, said a day before the fatal shootout, the two brother were together. They had an argument, but it was amicably settled within hours.

Sarna said the two families were also together for Diwali, but that night too ended in an argument between the brothers. This argument, too, was settled soon after.

According to those close to the Chadhas, no one from the two families approached the police. "The FIRs were filed by a driver and a manager, not by anyone from either of the families," a relative said. He said the families supported each other throughout.

Sarna addressed the guests at the end of the prayer meeting: "There are reports in the media about Ponty and Hardeep, which have caused the family great distress. The family is one and united. It has been decided that all of Ponty's work, particularly charity, would continue and will be carried out by the family."

Lauding Ponty's work for the community, Sarna said Ponty's contribution to the Sikh community and culture was second only to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. "Nobody was as magnanimous as him in these (charity) matters," Sarna said.

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