Row over clash between Sikh family, youths snowballs

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, August 18

The issue of a clash between a Sikh family and four college students snowballed on Saturday after Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MLA from Kalanwali in Sirsa Balkaur Singh and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and the District Bar Association came out in support of the opposing groups, respectively. They demanded a fair inquiry into the incident.

A special investigation team (SIT) headed by DSP Jitender Singh was formed to probe into the incident after a delegation led by the Kalanwali MLA met him on Saturday, a police spokesperson said.

Two groups had clashed at a restaurant on Thursday evening after a verbal spat following remarks by a youth. A Sikh woman took offence to the remark while the youths denied having made a reference to her.

The verbal spat turned violent as both groups attacked each other. While Aakash, son of advocate Virender Malik, and his friend Vikas suffered stab injuries, Tanpreet Singh, his wife Simran Kaur and father were also injured.

The police on Friday registered a case of attempt to murder (Section 307 of the IPC) on a complaint by Aakash against Tanpreet, his father Joginder and two other women. A counter case was also registered against Aakash and his friends on a complaint by Kanwal Jeet, sister of Tanpreet, under Section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 354 A (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and on other charges.

Kalanwali MLA Balkaur Singh visited the aggrieved family in Hisar and assured it of full support. SGPC member Raminder Singh Santi met SP Shiv Charan and pleaded innocence of the Sikh family. “We demand cancellation of the FIR registered against them, suspension of the SHO of the Civil Lines, who registered the FIR and also strict action against the youths who teased the woman and then assaulted her family.

On the other hand, the District Bar Association held a meeting presided over by its president Pradeep Bajia. It condemned the attempt to give religious colour to the incident to influence investigation. “We demand the arrest of those involved in the murderous attack. The association will keep a tab on the police probe,” it added.

Meanwhile, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal has urged Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take appropriate action in the matter. He demanded that the false case registered against members of the Sikh family be withdrawn and a case under Section 295-A (hurting religious sentiments) and other appropriate sections be registered against the four youths.