Ex-Block Samiti chief booked

The clash reported in village Bhullarai earlier this week took a new turn after Sadar police, Phagwara, registered a cross-case against senior Congress leader and former Chairman of Block Samiti, Phagwara, Gurdial Singh Bhullarai, along with more than half a dozen others.

According to information received, Gagandeep a resident of village Bhullarai, who is currently under treatment at Civil Hospital, Phagwara, alleged in his statement to the police that he was travelling from Bhullarai to Dhak Bhullarai. When he reached near the residence of Gurdial Singh, he saw the village Sarpanch Rajat Bhanot, Goldy and other youths engaged in a heated argument with Gurdial Singh and several individuals, identified as Davinder Kaur, Sanjeev Kumar, Anju Bala, Ashu Kumar, Amarjit Singh alias Gabhrū and Jatinder Singh.

Gagandeep stated that when he intervened to defuse the situation, the group allegedly assaulted him and tore the sacred religious thread (janeu) from his neck.

The complainant claimed that the primary reason behind the dispute is the alleged presence of Gujjar community livestock on the village residential land, reportedly kept there by Gurdial Singh. Villagers, including Sarpanch Rajat Bhanot, had objected to it and asked for the space to be vacated, leading to tension between both sides.

Confirming the development, ASI Jaswinderpal of Sadar police station said that an FIR has been registered based on the complaint of Gagandeep under Sections 133, 115(2), 126(2) and 190 of the BNS. He added that the matter is being investigated as a cross-case, as both parties have levelled allegations of assault.