Indian woman hires men to kill husband; cousin shot instead

A 38-year-old Indian national was shot and seriously wounded by alleged hired killers while he was sleeping in his house in Makati City yesterday morning.

Superintendent Gilbert Cruz, chief of the Makati Police District, identified the victim as Sunil Kumar, who suffered a bullet wound in his back. A neighbor rushed him to a nearby hospital, where he was declared in critical condition.

Police said suspects Ronnie Ortillano, 21, and Jun Artinta entered Kumar’s house and shot him. Barangay watchmen caught Ortillano when he fled on foot. Artinta managed to escape.

Police arrested Kumar’s neighbor, Alicia Tomenio, 45; and his cousin, Hardeep Kaur, 28, who were tagged by Ortillano as the masterminds.

Police said the suspect mistook Kumar as Kaur’s husband, Manjit Singh, the original target of the assassination.

He said Tomenio admitted to Palanan chairman Ernesto Cruz that she was the one who introduced Ortillano and Artinta to Kaur when the latter asked if she knew a man whom she can hire to kill Singh.

Tomenio said Kaur provided Ortillano and Artinta with firearms and promised to pay them P100,000 once Singh is killed.     – Jose Rodel Clapano