Narrow escape for youths in firing

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 1

Several armed men fired at two youths, who are volunteers for an organisation that has launched an anti-drug campaign, in Mardikalan village, falling under the Majitha police station, here on Monday.

The victims have been identified as Sukhpreet Singh and Jagroop Singh, both residents of the same village.

The police have booked four persons in this regard. The suspects have been identified as Jobanpreet Singh, Sikander Singh and Jaspal Singh, all residents of Mardikalan village, and Monty, a resident of Talwandi Ghumman village.

Sukhpreet said the organisation had been fighting against the drug menace for the past six months and it had organised many awareness programmes in the village and adjoining areas.

He added that they had helped a number of youths to get rid of drugs and due to the efforts of the organisation, the village had seen a positive change. He said the organisation was working under the guidance of Papalpreet Singh, a Sikh youth activist.

He said the suspects were sheltering those who were involved in drug peddling. He said, “We were supporting their opponents, which did not go down well with them.”

“On Monday, I went to the market with my friend Jagroop to get a medicine. When we reached the street where the house of Jobanpreet is located, Monty signaled him. Thereafter, Jobanpreet took out his revolver and fired two shots at me. He fired another gunshot towards Jagroop. We ran away in order to save ourselves. The suspects, who had sharp weapons, followed us. When we raised the alarm, people gathered and they fled away from the spot,” said Sukhpreet.

A case under Sections 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act has been registered against the suspects, who are on the run.

SSP Amritsar (rural) Parampal Singh said raids were on to arrest the suspects. “The Punjab Police have adopted zero tolerance to drug abuse. If the suspects are involved in any illegal trade as alleged, they will be put behind bars soon,” he added.

Papalpreet took to social media and wrote that “they would neither stop their campaign nor they would be intimidated by such tactics”