PPP leader shoots SAD worker dead, eight held - Poll violence

Saturday, 14/02/2015

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=124814&boxid=58035&uid=&dat=2015-02-14

Bathinda : A prominent leader of Manpreet Singh Badal’s political outfit People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) Lakhvir Singh ‘Lakha’ Sidhana of Rampura on Friday allegedly shot dead a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) activist outside the Phul sub-divisional administrative complex.

The deceased was later identified as Kulveer Singh alias Goldy of Mehraj village. The ill-fated youth was accompanying a group of SAD leaders on their way to file nomination papers for the Nagar Panchayat elections of Mehraj village, when the incident took place.

Acting upon the complaint, Phul police have booked Lakha Sidhana and seven of his accomplices under Sections 302, 148 and 149 of the IPC along with Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.

It is pertinent to mention here that Lakha Sidhana had unsuccessfully contested Vidhan Sabha elections in 2012 on PPP symbol against SAD candidate Sikander Singh Maluka. Sidhana, as learnt, has remained involved in various gangwars in the past. A number of times, police have arrested him for his alleged anti-social activities.

According to information, Lakha had some old rivalry with the victim Goldy. After shooting Goldy, Lakha and his accomplices, including one identified as Sewak Singh allegedly fled from the spot.

Meanwhile, Goldy’s companions rushed him to Adesh Hospital in Bhucho, where he succumbed to the bullet injury to his chest.

Receiving information, state Rural Development Minister Sikander Singh Maluka and a heavy posse of cops, including various senior police officials rushed to the spot. Later, they also visited the hospital.

Collecting evidence and recording the statements of persons concerned, Phul police booked PPP leader Lakha along with seven others. Constituting teams, the district police chief Inder Mohan Singh Bhatti ordered his subordinates to launch a search operation and arrest all accused at the earliest possible.

Sources informed that Lakha was accompanying a Congress candidate who had also gone there to file his nomination papers when he and Goldy came across each other.