Cong, SAD workers clash at Preneet rally, 8 injured

Aman Sood

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 9

More than eight persons were injured, two of them seriously, when workers of the SAD and the Congress clashed at a rally at Kalara village in Shutrana.

The clash was triggered after some villagers showed black flags to Congress candidate Preneet Kaur. Irked over the protest, Congress activists countered villagers and the situation turned ugly. The police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the clashing activists. A case was registered against some villagers.

The police said they had recorded the statements of Jaswinder Singh and Nachattar Kaur, who were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Samana. “They are Congress workers and their statements have been recorded,” said DSP Jaswant Singh.

Some villagers alleged that the Congress workers attacked them after they boycotted the visit of Preneet Kaur and Shutrana MLA Nirmal Singh.

“A peaceful protest was going on with black flags being shown to the local MLA by some villagers, who were perturbed over the government’s partisan role in the recently concluded sarpanch elections,” a villager alleged.

Akali Dal candidate Surjit Singh Rakhra, who met the injured at Government Rajindra Hospital, alleged, “The Congress workers attacked Akalis with bricks. The police, instead of helping our workers, whisked away Congress leaders and lathicharged our supporters.”

Some of the injured told The Tribune that after Preneet Kaur left the village, Congress workers barged into their houses and hit them with sticks. “The cops did not come to save us. No Congressman was injured. Despite this, a case is being registered against villagers who were protesting peacefully,” they alleged.

AAP candidate Neena Mittal, who also reached the hospital, said, “I am surprised how people protesting peacefully in their own village were beaten up. I urge the police to take strict action against the guilty.”

When contacted, SP (H) Ravjot Grewal said they were investigating the matter.