Tehsildar, DSP among 24 injured in clash in Punjab

Sangrur, Oct 11 (UNI) As many as 24 people including a Naib Tehsildar, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and six other policemen were injured in a clash between two groups over a piece of land and firing by police personnel at Bhadaur village in this district today.

The police had to use tear gas and even resorted to lathi charge in order to dispesse the members of the two groups many of whom were armed with swords and lathis. The mob burnt two police vehicles, a car belonging to a TV-channel and several two wheelers.

The building of the telephone exchange in the village was also set on fire but timely action by the police saved the exchange from being gutted.

While SSP S K Asthana denied that the police resorted to firing to bring the situation under control, eye witnesses claimed that four people received gun shot wounds and they were taken away by the police and admitted to hospitals outside the district.

According to police officials at least a dozen persons of both the groups had been booked. The district administration has also ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Giving details of the clash, police said that the incident took place when members of the management committee of Nanaksar Khatha gurdwara in the village went to take control of a piece of land following a Punjab and Haryana High court order in their favour.

They were accompanied by a police party.

When members of the management committee of Pati Veer Singh gurdwara in the same village came to know of the development they informed the residents of Bhadaur. A large number of villagers along with the committee members of Pati Veer Singh gurdwara confronted the Nanaksar gurdwara committee and the police party accompanying them.

Amongst the injured were Naib Tehsildar Gurmit Singh, DSP Santokh Singh, head constables Parmel Singh and Sahib Singh and constables Balwinder, Darshan and Sukhjinder Singh. The Naib Tehsildar was shifted to the DMC hospital at Ludhiana, the others were admitted at the civil hospital here.

Municipal Committee member Hari Baba and All India Akali Dal activist, Mrs Nirdosh Phulka also sustained injuries. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) local MLA Balbir Singh also reached the village after learning of the clash.

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