Akali factions clash in Lambi; 5 hurt in firing

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Lambi/Muktsar, October 22

Two Akali factions today clashed over a development project at Mahnikhera village in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency Lambi. They also allegedly opened fire, causing injuries to five persons. Two of them were referred from the Malout Civil Hospital to the Faridkot hospital.

One of the factions was led by sarpanch Guramrit Singh Gill, son of Punjabi actor Guggu Gill, and the other was led by Cheta Singh, brother of Kulwinder Punia, president of the Malout arhtiyas’ association.

The clash erupted over the installation of solar lights in streets. Guramrit Gill said, “Our two activists, Randeep and Rajbinder alias Bindia, were going on a tractor loaded with solar power lights. Suddenly, some persons came and opened fire on them. They were carrying two .12-bore guns and a pistol. Both sustained bullet injuries. Thereafter, they ran away with the tractor and a pistol of one of our activists. One of our other activists, Ajaypal Singh, also got injured in the scuffle.”

On the other hand, Kulwinder Singh Punia, said, “The sarpanch of our village is not installing lights in the streets of our supporters. My brother Cheta Singh had even raised objection over this on Friday and the work was stalled. However, the sarpanch’s men again started the installation of the streetlights on Saturday. When our activists tried to stop them, they opened fire. Our two activists have suffered bullet injuries and are admitted at the Community Health Centre in Lambi. They were not carrying any weapon.” The police are investigating.

On September 15, five persons were injured in a clash between two Akali factions over the distribution of cheques to poor families for the repair of houses at Sehna Khera village.