Bhai Rupa village clash: 20 SAD workers booked for murder bid

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 13

The Phul police on Wednesday booked 20 SAD workers on the charge of attempt to murder in the incident pertaining to a clash with Congress workers during the Kangar Pati cooperative society election held two days ago at Bhai Rupa village in the district.

The workers, who have been booked are SAD circle jathedar Satnam Singh, Nagar panchayat president Gurmail Singh, Kaur Singh, Lakhvir Singh, Mahla Singh, Nagar panchayat vice-president Surjit Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Harmail Singh, Jeet Singh, Hardev Singh, Jagtar Singh, Gurmail Singh, Surinderpal Singh, Baljinder Singh Gurjant Singh and five unidentified persons.

A case had been registered on the statement of victim Sukhtej Singh, a resident of Bhai Rupa village.

In his complaint lodged with the police, he stated that during the cooperative society election in the village, the accused beat him up and his associates. Later, accused Gurmail Singh opened fire on him and a bullet hit him on the shoulder and he is still under treatment at the Civil Hospital.

A case under Sections 307, 341, 323, 148, 149 of the IPC and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59-A of the Arms Act have been registered against the accused at the Phul police station.

A delegation of SAD Bhai Rupa, headed by former minister Sikander Singh Maluka, on Wednesday met Inspector-General of Police (IGP) MF Faroouqi and SSP Naveen Singla and demanded a fair probe into the incident which took place at Bhai Rupa village on June 11.

Maluka alleged that the Congress openly resorted to acts of hooliganism and forcefully captured the society election scene at Bhai Rupa. They even pelted stones at SAD workers, in which various workers and a mediaperson was injured.

He alleged instead of taking action against Congress workers, the police under the directions of the power minister had booked SAD workers on the charge of attempt to murder. He said the police were framing a false story claiming that a shot was fired by a SAD worker, but the fact was that no shot was fired by anyone at the spot.

Maluka said he had demanded a high-level probe into the incident and if the police administration did not cancel this case after conducting a probe, then SAD would gherao the police station in the coming days.