Youth shot over Ajnala land dispute, 4 booked

A young farmer from Ajnala was shot and injured in an alleged armed attack linked to a simmering land dispute, prompting police to register a case against four men and several unidentified accomplices.

The incident occurred on the evening of November 26 near Motla village, though the case was registered yesterday.

According to the victim’s statement, he has been jointly farming with his uncle Davinder Singh since the death of his father, Rajinder Singh, six years ago. On November 26, he, along with his uncle, a tractor driver and his uncle’s younger son, had travelled to Motla to sow wheat on a 10-kanal 7-marla plot the family had reportedly purchased earlier.

After completing the work, the group began their return around 7 pm in a car driven by his uncle. The complainant said that as they approached the village drain bridge, two motorcycles and a white car blocked their way. He alleged that Hardeep Kumar and Gaurav Sharma of Old Sabzi Mandi, Ajnala, and Sarabjit Singh alias Saba of Motla—armed with a revolver, a pistol and a rifle respectively—opened fire on their vehicle. The car reportedly carried three to four unidentified men.

A bullet struck him in the left shoulder, triggering panic. Hearing the gunfire, his uncle’s younger son rushed to the spot in a Thar vehicle, prompting the assailants to flee on their motorcycles and in the car. The injured youth was taken to Ajnala Civil Hospital for initial treatment and later referred to Guru Nanak Hospital, Amritsar.

The complainant alleged that some influential individuals attempted to pressure him into a compromise on November 27, delaying his official statement. He recorded it on November 29 after settlement talks failed.

He further claimed that the attack was intended to prevent his family from cultivating the Motla land so that the accused could “encroach upon it illegally”, adding that the assault was carried out in collusion with gangster-linked associates allegedly connected to two foreign-based aides of Hardeep Kumar.

Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. Further enquiries are underway.