Excise officials manhandled, ex-sarpanch among 8 booked

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 13

A former sarpanch of Phulechak village and his accomplices “attacked” a team of the Excise and Taxation Department, headed by Inspector Rajvinder Kaur, on Tuesday. They allegedly tried to snatch the weapons of the cops accompanying them and scuffled with the team members.

One of them even claimed himself to be the brother of slain gangster Vicky Gounder and threatened the officials with dire consequences in case they entered the village. The hoodlums allegedly tore the uniform of one of the officials.

Those booked were identified as former sarpanch Harjit Singh, Sonu, Gurpreet Singh, Jhirmal Singh, Angrej Singh, Sana and Binder, all residents Phulechak village. Several unidentified persons too have been booked.

Rajwinder Kaur stated to the Ajnala police that she, along with her colleagues, was on a routine checking drive in her circle on Tuesday. Excise officials often take up checking campaigns to keep illegal trade of liquor under check. She said that when her team reached near Phulechak in the evening, the accused stopped forced them to stop and started misbehaving. She said that when Head Constable Gurdyal Singh and Constable Sharabir Singh came out of the vehicle, the accused had a scuffle with them. She said that when she tried to intervene, the accused misbehaved with her as well.

According to her, the assailants tried to damage the government vehicle. Former sarpanch Harjit Singh tried to snatch the keys of the vehicle. Claiming himself to be the brother of slain gangster Vicky Gounder, he warned them against entering the village, she alleged.

She said that they managed to escape with great difficulty. She said they later came to know about the identity of the attackers.

SHO Paramjit Singh Virdi said raids were on to nab the suspects who had been absconding since the registration of a case. Sections 352, 186, 341, 506, 511, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered against them.