Nihang chief Baba Ajit Singh Phoola set ablaze

Amritsar, Aug 28: Tarna Dal Nihang chief Baba Ajit Singh Phoola sustained serious burn injuries when two jail inmates set him afire in Amritsar Central jail. According to prison authorities, Baba Ajit Singh Phoola was taking his lunch this afternoon in cell no 30, when the two attacked him from behind, doused him with diesel taken out from a generator and set him ablaze.

The Baba, who has sustained 70 per cent burns, was rushed to Guru Nanakdev hospital here. The assailants have been identified as Harcharan Singh of Tarn Taran district convicted of attempt to murder and an undertrial Navtej Singh of Gurdaspur district. DIG (Border) Param Pal Singh Sidhu viisted the jail soon after the incident to ensure that the situation was under control. A case has been registered in the Sadar police station.

So far, the motive of attack was not clear, sources said.

The Nihang Baba Ajit Singh Phoola, a resident of Baba Bakala sub-division of Amritsar district, is undergoing trial in various cases including murder, attempt to murder and encroachment of land.

He was sent to jail on the orders of High Court.

The Baba, considered close to former Punjab police chief K P S Gill, had been attacked many times during the days of terrorism.

Before going to jail, he had been provided security cover by Punjab Police.

UNI