Clashes mar voting in Malwa

Sukhmeet Bhasin
Tribune News Service
Bathinda, May 19

Three SAD workers were injured in a clash between Congress and Akali Dal supporters outside a polling booth at Talwandi Sabo here today.

Jalour Singh, SAD leader, alleged that the Congress group headed by Khushbaz Singh Jattana attacked them and also opened fire on them. SAD worker Karam Singh got injured in the firing, while Mithu Singh sustained injuries in the scuffle, he said.

Later, former MLA Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu reached the spot and party workers protested outside the polling station. Polling was also stopped for some time.

Bathinda Range IGP MF Farooqui and Bathinda SSP Dr Nanak Singh reached the spot and polling resumed after their intervention and deployment of huge security forces at the polling station.

A case under Sections 307, 323, 452, 354, 148 and 149 of the IPC and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act and Sections 3 and 4 of the SC/ST Act against Congress Bathinda rural president Khushbaz Singh Jattana and nine others was registered at the Talwandi Sabo police station.

Congress worker Ranjit Singh was also admitted to a private hospital. He alleged SAD workers opened fire at their group. They alleged the SAD workers were purchasing votes and when Jattana came to know of it, he reached there and stopped them, following which SAD workers vandalized the Congress booth and attacked the party workers with stones, besides opening fire at them.

SSP Dr Nanak Singh said, “We have registered a case against Jattana and others on the complaint of a SAD leader. We have not received any information about the Congress worker getting injured.”

In another incident, two SAD polling agents Paramjit Singh and Sarabjit Singh were allegedly thrashed at Kangar village in Rampura Phul. When former SAD minister Sikander Singh Maluka reached Kangar village, the Congress workers allegedly attacked and damaged his car. Later, he sought re-polling at booth no. 77 and 78.

Sangrur: Three persons were injured when two groups of Congress workers allegedly clashed at Ealwal village in  Sangrur during polling on Sunday.  Sangrur SSP Dr Sandeep Garg said two groups of Congress workers clashed at Ealwal village and three persons were injured. Mandeep Singh, Harbans Singh and Baljinder Singh have been admitted to the civil hospital.