Akali sarpanch opens fire in Batala village, injures 3

Tribune News Service

Batala, June 16

An Akali sarpanch fired at a group of people today, injuring three of them, over a land dispute at Jaura Singh village falling under Kila Lal Singh police station.

Sarpanch Navjot Singh and his neighbour, Gurdeep Singh, are at loggerheads over the past few years over the ownership of a tract of agricultural land. Both parties were present at the disputed site this morning when a heated exchange began. Navjot allegedly pulled out his licensed pistol and started firing. Gurdeep sustained an injury on the leg. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital, from where the doctors referred him to an Amritsar hospital due to his deteriorating condition.

Gurpreet Singh and Balwinder Kaur, who were also injured, are recuperating at the Civil Hospital.

A case under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 148 (armed with weapon likely to cause death) and 149 (unlawful assembly of people guilty of committing an offence in pursuance of a common objective) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the Arms Act has been registered against Navjot and his five accomplices — Bir Singh, Laddi, Jagdeep Singh, Subeg Singh and Sulakhan Singh.

Addressing a press conference, Batala SSP Daljinder Singh Dhillon dismissed the speculation that the firing was the outcome of a turf war between Akali leaders.

“A manhunt has been launched,” he added.