SAD councillor’s husband attacked

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 24

The husband of a SAD councillor was attacked by a medical store owner here on Friday. The reason behind the attack is said to be an old rivalry as the victim used to oppose the medical shop owner, identified as Jagjit Singh, for “selling” drugs in his shop in the Ajit Road area.

The victim has been identified as Balwinder Singh Balli, husband of SAD councillor from Ward No. 8 Paramjit Kaur Sidhu.

The victim has received serious injuries as he was attacked on his head with a sharp-edged weapon. Later, the accused with his also two associates entered his house to attack him again, but the victim raised the alarm. Thereafter, people from nearby area gathered and the accused fled from the spot.

Balli was taken to the Civil Hospital where doctors prepared his medical legal report and sent it to the Civil Lines police station. After that, the police reached the hospital and recorded his statement to initiate action in this incident.

Balli said, “The owner of a medical store situated near Street No. 24 in the Ajit Road area here sells drugs in the medical store. Area residents also protested against him. Therefore, I requested him not to sell drugs on a number of occasions. But, he did not mend his ways. Irked over it, residents even lodged a complaint against him with the police and a raid was also conducted on his medical store. Thereafter, a case was registered against him.”

“Jagjit believes that I am behind the registration of the case. After that, he harbours grudge against me over the issue,” he added.

Talking about the incident, Balli said, “On Friday morning when I was on my way home, the accused attacked me from the rear. I immediately ran towards my house. Later, he, along with his two associates, also entered my house and attacked me again. As I started shouting, they ran away.”

Shivchand Singh, SHO, Civil Lines police station, said, “We have received a ruka from the hospital. We have recorded the statement of the victim. Action will be taken as per the law.”