Clash erupts over election dispute in Sirsa, three hurt

A violent clash broke out in Sirsa on Tuesday between supporters of Baljit Singh Daduwal and Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala following the recent Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) elections. The incident, which took place in Kalanwali, is believed to have stemmed from post-election rivalry.

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Reports suggest that the altercation occurred when Sukhdev Singh and his father were outside their house. Sukhdev Singh alleged that a supporter of Tilokewala, identified as Talwinder Singh, attacked him with a spade, and that other members of Tilokewala's group joined in the assault. As a result, Sukhdev Singh and his associate, Balkaran Singh, were injured. Sukhdev Singh accused Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala of orchestrating the attack.

However, Talwinder Singh, who was also injured, offered a different account. He said while heading to the market, Sukhdev Singh and his father, Makhan Singh, attacked him with sticks. Talwinder claimed that Sukhdev Singh and his father had previously threatened to shoot him because of his support for Kuldeep Singh Faggu, a rival of Tilokewala in the elections. Talwinder also revealed that he had previously organised events for Baljit Singh Daduwal.

Upon learning of the altercation, local police from Kalanwali, along with the CIA team. Kuldeep Singh Faggu, who had defeated Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala in the elections, also visited the Kalanwali Community Health Centre to inquire about the incident.

Sandeep Singh, DSP of Kalanwali, said while the clash initially appeared to be a personal dispute, it was also being viewed in the context of the recently concluded elections. "No formal statements have been recorded yet, but it’s likely to be treated as an electoral dispute," the DSP said. He confirmed that three individuals were injured, and once their statements were taken, the police would file an FIR and begin further investigation.

Notably, Baljit Singh Daduwal, a prominent figure in the Sikh community, suffered a major defeat in the HSGMC elections. He lost to Binder Singh Khalsa from Kalanwali by 1,767 votes. Daduwal blamed the administration and opposition parties for his defeat, claiming that all parties had united against him. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Singh Faggu triumphed over Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala from Rori, winning by 1,100 votes.