Dalits, Nihangs clash over land; one killed, 10 injured

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, October 15

A Dalit was killed and 10 were injured in a clash with Nihangs over possession of reserved land at Shahpur Kalan village in the district today. The police booked nine Nihangs and started raids to arrest them.

Family members of those injured alleged that Nihangs had encroached upon five acres of village common land around five years ago. On the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the police got vacated 1.25 acres from Nihangs’ possession two years ago and handed it over to the village panchayat to carve out two-marla plots for each Dalit family.

When the Dalits arrived at the site today to take possession of their plots, it led to a clash with the Nihangs occupying the land.

Gurmeet Singh, a Dalit villager, said: “We had informed the police last evening, following which cops visited our village. But they did not take action. During the clash, Nihangs attacked us with bricks and sharp-edged weapons.”

The deceased was identified as Teja Singh (65). The following were injured: Bhola Singh, Lal Singh, Satnam Singh, Jagar Singh, Raj Singh, Mela Singh, Gurnam Singh, Ninder Khan, his wife Rajni and Gurpreet Singh. They are under treatment at the Sunam Civil Hospital.

Sunam DSP William Jeji denied the charge that the police failed to act. He said he had asked the panchayat to first complete paperwork as per nroms before taking possession of 1.25 acres.

“However, the panchayat instigated Dalits in the morning to take possession of land despite being aware of Nihangs’ presence,” said Jeji. A case was registered under Sections 302, 307, 323, 324, 506, 148, 149 and 120-B IPC and Sections 3 and 4 of the SC/ST Act against Nihangs Shamsher Singh, Maghar Singh, Shingara Singh, Harjit Singh, Lavjot Singh, Ram Singh, Pal Singh and two unidentified persons.