Caste remark triggers clash, one dead, 16 Akalis booked

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, February 6

About 16 armed supporters of SAD leader Gurpreet Singh Babbu, former sarpanch of Palasaur village, allegedly shot a Dalit and injured his brother today.

The victim too owed allegiance to the Akali Dal. He has been identified as Surjit Singh (35). His brother Jaswant Singh (37) sustained bullet injuries on the arm, stomach and other parts of the body.

Some differences cropped up between the two during the election campaign of Harmeet Singh Sandhu, SAD candidate from Tarn Taran.

Babbu had allegedly used derogatory words against Dalits who chased him away from the village. The situation had been tense since then.

Jagir Singh, deceased’s father, said the family had been receiving threats for the last one week. He said this afternoon, he saw many armed men led by Babbu rushing towards his house. Sensing trouble, he asked his family members to bolt the main gate and take shelter on the terrace of the house. Some of the armed men went atop the house of a neighbour, while others entered their house by breaking the main gate.

They then started indiscriminate firing at Jagir Singh’s family members. A bullet hit Surjit Singh on the forehead and he fell down from the terrace. Jagir Singh said while his other son was injured, the armed men ransacked the house before fleeing.

Harjit Singh, SSP, said a case under Sections 302, 307, 148, 149 IPC and 25, 54, 59 Arms Act had been registered against 16 persons.

Babbu, his two brothers Amarpal Singh and Karanveer Singh, besides Satnam Singh Satta and Gurwinder Singh are the five identified accused, while the identity of the remaining was yet to be known.