Akali factions come to blows at Sangat Darshan
Tuesday, 20/01/2015
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/politics/akali-factions-come-to-blows-at-sangat-darshan/31978.html
Lambi : Two Akali factions came to blows at Sehnakhera village in the Lambi Assembly segment, minutes after the Chief Minister left the Sangat Darshan venue.
The two groups engaged in a war of words even when the Chief Minister was present. But it was a free-for-all once the VVIP had left.
Turbans were tossed into the air as 50 activists of the rival groups took on each other. A heavy posse of police was present. But that proved to be no deterrent.
It was only after some villagers intervened that the groups went away. Sources said an ugly scene erupted over issuance of village grants.
“The Chief Minister wanted to give grants to the panchayat. But residents owing allegiance to a former sarpanch opposed it. The issue was raised in the CM’s presence too. He asked both the factions to make peace which was shattered once the SAD patron left the venue,” they said.
At Kakhanwali village too some Akali activists accused a rival group of not allowing them to raise their demands pertaining to the drainage system. “We had some genuine demands, but our opponents silenced us,” alleged Nahma Ram, former block samiti member, Milkha Singh, father of the village sarpanch, and Balwinder Singh, husband of a panchayat member.
On January 2, two Akali factions had clashed at Mann village, located adjacent to Badal village, immediately after the Chief Minister had left the Sangat Darshan venue.
The clash erupted over village waterworks. On August 24 last year, two groups had fought it out in the presence of the Chief Minister at Chibbaranwali village. The trigger was the construction of a drain. A criminal case was registered at the Lakhewali police station.
On January 11, two SAD groups entered into a brawl at Bhangchari village while Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Ghubaya and Malout MLA Harpreet Singh were appealing to local residents to attend the Maghi Mela conference. A criminal case was registered.
