Clash erupts during relief ops; 6 injured

jalandhar, August 25

Six persons of Sheikh Manga village in Sultanpur Lodhi were injured in when a clash erupted between two groups during flood relief operations on Sunday.

The injured are Kulwant Singh, Gurmit Singh, Rattan Singh, Harjit Singh, Joginder Singh and one unidentified person.

Sheikh Manga village has been badly affected by floods.

Among the six, two persons suffered serious gunshot wounds. They have been taken to local Civil Hospital.

DSP Sarwan Singh Bal said, “In the evening, certain villagers came in a tractor-trailer to distribute ration to flood-hit persons at Sheikh Manga village. Members of a rival faction of the village opposed it. The conflict between the two groups escalated and gunshots were fired.”

Sources said when relatives of some villagers began distributing ration, ex-sarpanch Gurmej Singh opposed it.

SHO Sarabjit Singh said, “The ex-sarpanch started firing on the group distributing ration and later took refuge at an acquaintance’s house. Soon his’s relatives rushed to the spot and resorted to firing. Due to an old rivalry, Gurmej didn’t want the relief material to be distributed in a certain part of the village.”

The police dismissed any caste angle in the incident and registered a case. —TNS