Several injured in bloody clash over possession of land

PK Jaiswar

Advertisement

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 12

Dispute over possession of a land at Machhi Nangal village in Ajnala turned bloody when two groups involving farmers and members of a community led by Pendu Mazdoor Union clashed with each other here today.

The incident occurred when a group of persons belonging to the weaker section of society led by Pendu Mazdoor Union tried to occupy a government land. Both the groups pelted stones each other with stones.

Among those injured in the clash include Chamkaur Masih, Babli, Rehmat Masih, James Masih, Roshan Masih and Kulwinder Masih of the Pendu Mazdoor Union. Those injured among farmers group were identified as Kanwaljit Singh Laddi, Gurmej Singh, Gagandeep Singh and Baljit Kaur.

A policeman, Balwinder Singh, also sustained injury in the scuffle.

The Jhander police have booked around 30 persons of the group headed by the Union on charges of attempt to murder, criminal trespass and conspiracy, besides other relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.

Union’s state finance secretary Dharminder Singh Ajnala claimed that the government land was allotted to the poor labour class people under Indira Awas Yojna in 1973-74. However, he alleged that at that time they were neither able to construct a house nor take possession of the land, which was later, illegally occupied by panchayat member Karminder Singh and others.

He said the police was helping accused persons. The police fired at the poor people and used lathi charge to disperse them from the spot.

The union demanded registration of a case against policemen and accused, who had illegal possession of the land.

Ajnala alleged that the police was acting at the behest of the local ruling party leaders and registered a one sided case against the people belonging to the labour class.

Station House Officer of the Jhander police station, Sukhjinder Singh, said they reached the spot after receiving information about the clash. He said it appeared to be a planned attack.

Members of the union were not taking a legal route, he said while adding that the registry of the land was with the peasants. They should take a legal course and approach district administration for the same, he added. The SHO said they wanted to take possession of the land forcibly, which was not the legal way.