Man in Nihang attire creates ruckus, held

Tension erupted late on Friday night near a chicken shop on GT Road, Phagwara, after a man dressed in Nihang attire was allegedly found consuming liquor and eating meat inside a parked Scorpio vehicle along with a woman.

According to Sikh organisations in Phagwara, they received a call from another town informing them that a Scorpio car, bearing the name of Taruna Dal Doaba Nihang Singh Jathebandi, was parked outside the shop. When representatives of the Sikh groups reached the spot, they found a man in traditional Nihang dress and a woman inside the vehicle.

Leaders of the Sikh groups claimed that the man, identified as Surinder Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur, was consuming meat and alcohol in the vehicle. When confronted, he allegedly misbehaved and attempted to attack them with a kirpan. Members present at the spot also claimed to have recovered a fake pistol and sharp-edged knife from him.

Witnesses said that during the scuffle, Sikh volunteers removed the man's Nihang attire. Some locals reportedly assaulted him before the police arrived.

The woman accompanying the accused reportedly told bystanders that she was picked up by the man from outside Basra Palace and was supposed to be paid for accompanying him. The man, meanwhile, apologised on camera and said the woman was a relative.

Cops from city police station, led by SI Darshan Singh, arrived after receiving a call from Sikh leaders and took the accused and the vehicle into custody. A case has been registered.