Islam Ganj tense after armed youths attack house over ‘5-yr-old grudge’ with owner

Armed youths attacked a local’s house in the Islamganj area late on Friday night, reportedly due to an old grudge. Panic spread in the area and people rushed out of their houses to see what was happening.

Before the attack, the accused even stood in the alley shouting expletives. Soon after, they started throwing bricks and stones at the house. The accused continued to throw stones and bricks in the area for about half an hour. They also used a sharp-edged weapon and iron rods to pound the front gate of the house. An auto-rickshaw and a car parked outside the house was also damaged as bricks and stones lay scattered in the alley.

As per the information, the victim, Pritpal Singh Pala, lives in the house with his family. The reason of the attack was stated to be some enmity, dating back to five years. Pala and some other residents informed the police control room. Upon receiving the information, cops from police division No. 2 reached the spot, but by then the assailants managed to flee. The police took nearby CCTV footage in possession to identify the assailants and started an investigation.

The complainant said that he used to be engaged in some social work, and about four-five years ago he had a dispute with some youths from the same area. However, the matter was later resolved through the intervention of some prominent residents of the area and some friends, leading to a compromise.

Pala revealed that he later left social work and started working in Millerganj area. Yesterday night, around 11 pm, some youths in the area started abusing him loudly and later started pelting his house with stones. After that, the accused pounded the house gate with a sharp-edged weapon and threatened him to open the door.

The complainant revealed that the accused continued to throw bricks and stones inside the house. He later informed the police. However when police arrived, the accused had fled.

On Saturday morning, local residents gathered in the locality amid an atmosphere of fear and tension. BJP leader Gurdev Sharma Debi stated that the government had failed to maintain law and order situation in the state. “Several incidents are occurring daily in the state, but the government is unwilling to do anything,” he said. He added that if these people do not get justice, they would be forced to stage a protest.

Meanwhile, Inspector Gurjit Singh, SHO, police division No. 2 stated that the CCTV footage from the surrounding areas was being checked. Some youths have been taken into custody. The matter is under investigation and a case will be registered, he added.

Meanwhile, sources said that the area MLA was trying to reach a compromise between the disputing parties.