Cong, BJP men clash in Chamba

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 8

In a first incident of violence, supporters of Congress candidate Kuldeep Singh Pathania and the BJP’s Bikram Singh Jaryal from Bhattiyat in Chamba district clashed late last night.

A constable guarding Pathania was injured seriously. He was shifted to the Tanda medical college in Kangra district. Both Pathania and Jaryal have filed cross-complaints with the police.

Pathania said around 1 am, he was returning to his home in Suinta village. Jaryal, his son and about 25 persons stopped his vehicle and asked him to get down as they wanted to inspect his vehicle. He refused to get down following which the youths got violent.

“My security guard tried to intervene but they attacked and injured me critically,” Pathania alleged. Earlier also, his men were attacked. He had filed a complaint against Jaryal, his son and other youths, he said. Pathania alleged that the BJP workers tried to kill him.

Jaryal denied the allegations. He said he was not present on the spot of the clash. He was somewhere else when the clash occurred. He said his workers had got information that liquor was being distributed by Pathania’s supporters. His son and supporters tried to stop the workers of Pathania from distributing liquor. However, his security guard attacked his son and BJP workers. The security guard fired in the air and even threatened my son by pointing his pistol at him.

This led to a clash between them. Even many of his supporters had received injuries, Jaryal alleged. He also alleged that a few days ago, Pathania’s supporters had broken the windowpanes of his vehicle and beaten up his supporters. He had received 12 stitches in his head.

Pathania’s version

Around 1 am, he was returning home in Suinta village. Jaryal, his son and about 25 persons stopped his vehicle and asked him to get down as they wanted to inspect his vehicle. He refused to get down following which the youths got violent.

Jaryal’s counter

His workers had got information that liquor was being distributed by Pathania’s supporters. His son and other workers went to the spot and tried to stop Pathania from distributing liquor. His security guard attacked his son and supporters.