Sarpanch among three killed as SAD groups clash
Saturday, 13/12/2014
http://paper.hindustantimes.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
AMRITSAR: Three persons, including a sitting Akali sarpanch, were killed and as many injured in an exchange of fire between two Akali groups over a land dispute in Lodhi Gujjar village near Lopoke on Friday.
The deceased were identified as Nawab Singh (26), sitting Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sarpanch of Lodhi Gujjar, Jagtar Singh (26), a resident of the same village, (both belonging to the same group) and Narinder Singh (45), a resident of Manjh village (of the rival group). The injured were identified as Mastool Singh, Jaspal Singh and Bawa Singh, all residents of Manjh.
The police have rounded up 14 persons from both the groups --13 from Nawab Singh’s group and one from the Narinder Singh’s group in this regard -- and initiated the process to register a case against them under section 302 IPC at Lopoke police station. The police also recovered five firearms used in the firing by the accused. THE ISSUE
The dispute pertains to a plot of land in Lodhi Gujjar, measuring three kanals. The land in question is currently under the possession of Bawa Singh, also of SAD, (belonging to the group of deceased Narinder Singh), who purchased it three years ago.
There was a dispute between Bawa Singh and Sarabjit Singh Lodhi Gujjar, former chairman of block samiti and an Akali leader, who is also the uncle of the deceased Nawab Singh.
Tension gripped Lodhi Gujjar at around 12.30 pm on Friday, when the Nawab Singh group, armed with firearms, entered the village on tractors. This group attempted to take possession of the disputed land, which led to exchange of fire between the two groups.
So intense was the firing between the two groups that even the police, which reached the spot, did not dare to intervene initially. Jasdeep Singh, SSP Amritsar rural police, said that the dispute had erupted barely a fortnight ago.
“The dispute was never reported earlier. The firing lasted about half-an-hour. We have arrested 14 persons from both the sides. A case is being registered against both the sides under section 302 IPC,” he said.
