One dead in clash between SAD, Cong supporters

Amritsar, Jan 29 (UNI) One person was killed and six others were injured in a clash between ruling Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers near Baba Bakala in the sensitive assembly constituency of Beas today.

The deceased was identified as one Dilbagh Singh, a worker of SAD.

He was killed when someone resorted to firing during the clash, police said.

The warring groups hurled bricks and stones at each other, resulting in injuries to six persons.

The clash took place near the election office of Congress candidate and sitting MLA from Beas, Jasbir Singh Dimpa, which is close to the railway crossing on the Rayya-Batala highway.

Mr Dimpa is involved in a multi-cornered contest against Manjinder Singh Kang (SAD) who is a relative of former chief minister Prakash Singh Badal. The two had also contested against each other in the last assembly polls.

According to police, the immediate provocation for the clash was the arrest of Sarabjit Singh, a former sarpanch of Baba Bakala and SAD activist by the police. He was arrested after the police had yesterday registered a case of abduction against him and the SAD candidate. The case was registered following the alleged abduction of Mrs Balbir Kaur Bhullar, the present Sarpanch of Baba Bakala who is a Congress supporter. The case was registered on the complaint of the family of Mrs Bhullar.

Police registered a case against Mr Dimpa and his brother, a police officer, in connection with the clash.

UNI