Sarpanch stabbed at ‘Back to Village’ drive

Kathua, June 26

The ‘Back to Village’ programme in the Ghatti panchayat of Kathua district turned bloody as the village sarpanch was stabbed following a verbal duel between two groups.

Eyewitnesses said the programme was being held at the Ghati panchayat ghar. A senior citizen, Devinder Singh, raised questions over the lack of arrangements for the programme before the officials. The sarpanch of the village, Prithipal Singh, alias Nikku, intervened in the matter and pacified Devinder. Meanwhile, another villager, Sehdev Singh, also pointed towards lack of arrangements but the supporters of the sarpanch reportedly entered into a scuffle with him and thrashed him.

The brother of Sehdev Singh, identified as Amreek Singh, posted at the Ghatti police post as a special police officer (SPO), rushed to save his brother but was also pushed back by the attackers.

Eyewitnesses said after finding his brother seriously injured, Amreek lost his temper and stabbed the sarpanch with a sharp-edged weapon, leaving him grievously injured. People present on the occasion caught hold of the SPO and handed him over to the police.

Sehdev was shifted to a nearby health centre, while the sarpanch was shifted to District Hospital, Kathua, in a critical condition. He was later shifted to Government Medical College and hospital for specialised treatment.

Station House Officer Arvind Sambyal said the SPO was in the custody of the police and further action would be initiated after the recording the statement of the injured sarpanch. — OC