Shiv Sena Punjab Leader Sword-Attacked in Ludhiana; Two Held

A Shiv Sena Punjab leader was severely injured after being attacked with swords by three assailants in public on Friday, police reported. Hours later, two attackers were arrested in Fatehgarh Sahib district. The securityman accompanying Thapar at the time was suspended for negligence, they added.

Shiv Sena Punjab leader Sandeep Thapar, 58, was attacked after leaving the Samvedna Trust office near the Civil Hospital. He had attended a ceremony marking the fourth death anniversary of the trust's founder-president Ravinder Arora. The Samvedna Trust offers free ambulance and hearse services.

Attack Details and Immediate Aftermath

CCTV footage of the incident surfaced on social media. In the video, assailants dressed as Nihangs approached Thapar while he was on a scooter with his securityman riding pillion. Thapar was speaking to them with folded hands when one attacker suddenly struck him with a sword as passersby watched. Another attacker pushed Thapar's securityman away.

After Thapar fell, a third assailant also began hitting him with a sword. Two of the attackers then fled on Thapar's scooter, leaving him in a pool of blood. Nihangs are a warrior Sikh sect known for their blue robes and traditional weapons.

Thapar suffered multiple injuries and was rushed to the Civil Hospital before being referred to a private hospital where his condition is serious, police said. Ludhiana Police Commissioner Kuldeep Chahal and Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police Ravjot Grewal reported that Thapar sustained injuries to his head, arms, and legs.

Arrests and Political Reactions

Two assailants, Sarabjit Singh and Harjot Singh from Ludhiana, were arrested in Fatehgarh Sahib. The scooter was recovered from them. The third attacker, Tehal Singh, remains at large with raids ongoing to apprehend him. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The BJP condemned the attack and demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's resignation. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar stated, "This incident has proved that the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is failing miserably in maintaining peace in the state." He called for strict action against the attackers.

Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen criticised Mann for failing to maintain law and order since AAP came to power. "The law and order situation in the state has gone from bad to worse," he alleged.

Opposition Criticism

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticised Mann's government. "Such incidents are occurring with increasing frequency in the @AamAadmiParty govt but CM @BhagwantMann is oblivious to the situation," he said in a post on X.

Congress leader Partap Bajwa condemned the incident and blamed Mann for Punjab's deteriorating law and order situation. "Peace in Punjab returned after endless sacrifices; no one should be allowed to vitiate the atmosphere of the state," he said in a post on X.

Bajwa urged Mann to focus on law and order instead of theatrics. "You have failed to control drugs; now law and order is also falling apart," he said. He suggested that if Mann cannot manage the state, he should resign and let another capable AAP leader take over.

The incident has sparked widespread criticism of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's administration from various political parties, highlighting concerns over Punjab's law and order situation.