SAD, Cong clash in Moga,10 hurt

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Baghapurana (Moga), Dec 6

At least 10 Akali workers were injured when supporters of the ruling Congress and the SAD-BJP alliance clashed at Baghapurana in Moga district today.

The incident happened on the premises of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s office on the last day of filing nomination papers for the local body elections.

Alliance leaders alleged that Congress workers, with the help of the local administration, did not allow their candidates to enter the office for filing their papers. They alleged that Congress workers even snatched the nominations papers of some of their candidates and tore them to pieces.

District president of SAD Tirath Singh Mahla alleged that civil and police officials, under the influence of local Congress MLA Darshan Singh Brar, did not allow SAD-BJP candidates to enter the SDM’s office for filing their papers and also used force to stop them.

“The executive officer of the municipal council gave the no-dues certificates to our candidates at 10 am today, after which they went to the RO’s office to file their papers. But, the local police intentionally closed the main gate of the office to prevent the SAD-BJP candidates from entering. Congress candidates, however, entered the office from the back door to file their papers,” he alleged.

Mahla alleged that a group of about 1,000 Congress workers attacked SAD-BJP supporters. SAD city president Pawan Kumar Dhand sustained a fracture on his arm in the clash. Harmail Singh Maur, a former president of the local market committee, too, sustained serious injuries in the clash.

Meanwhile, Baghapurana subdivision DSP Sukhdeep Singh, said the police had not received any complaint with regard to the clash between Congress and SAD-BJP workers by that time. “We have not taken any legal action so far,” he said.

‘Cancel elections in 4 towns’

Chandigarh: The SAD on Wednesday asked the State Election Commission to countermand municipal elections at four places in the state following incidents of violence. Clashes were reported at the Mallanwala and Makhu nagar panchayats in Ferozepur and municipalities of Ghanaur and Baghapurana. A delegation led by party vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema submitted a list of complaints pertaining to specific instances of violations at different places to Election Commissioner Jagpal Singh Sandhu. TNS