1 hurt in firing during Youth Cong poll

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, December 4

Tension erupted in Model Town outside a janjh ghar on Wednesday where Youth Congress elections were in progress. Two groups of Congress workers indulged in brawl after one group leveled allegations of fake voting on another.

During brawl, firing also took place in which one Congress worker Tajinder Singh Raju suffered bullet injury on his right leg. The DCP (Law and Order), Ashwani Kapur, along with other senior cops reached the spot and calmed down the situation.

Tension erupted between group of Manraj Singh and group of Ashwani Kumar, who were contesting on the seat of the Atam Nagar Assembly Youth Congress president. Manraj was supported by Parvinder Lapran, who was contesting on the seat of the Punjab Youth Congress president.

The former president of Atam Nagar Assembly Youth Congress, Jagjit Singh Shee, who came in the support of Ashwani Kumar said Lapran group was casting fake votes and when pointed out, they lost their cool and called their supporters.

“In no time supporters of Lapran reached the venue in large numbers and started firing shots into the air. Manraj Thukral fired four shots into the air out of which one bullet hit Congress worker Jaswinder Singh Raju, who was rushed to the CMC Hospital. He suffered bullet injury on his leg,” said Jagjit.

“I remained president of Atam Nagar Youth Congress two times in a row. I know each youth Congress voter personally. Today, when I saw some unknown workers, who were sent by Lapran to cast vote. When pointed out Lapran turned furious and resorted to cheap politics,” Jagjit told The Tribune.

His nephew Harry, who was also attacked by Lapran supporters, suffered injury on his neck, added Jagjit.

Ashwani also alleged that he caught fake voters sent by Lapran.

On the other hand, while denying allegations of firing into the air Parvinder Lapran said, instead Ashwani group attacked Jaswinder, Manraj’s uncle (chacha), who was presently admitted to the hospital. How come he added fake voters in the list as it was approved by the Congress high command after proper scrutiny, added Lapran.

The CCTV cameras were installed at the voting venue, Lapran said while adding that the police should check cameras to see the truth.

Meanwhile, Ward No. 49 Congress councillor Rajinder Kaur’s son Gurpreet Gopi, who reached the spot to protest against fake voting, was also attacked by Congress workers belonging to the Lapran group. During protest, the police stopped Gopi while he entered into arguments with ACP Jatinder Chopra. The ACP was telling Gopi not to create law and order situation. When Gopi did not budge the ACP and the police force resorted to a mild lathicharge and shooed away Gopi from the spot. Video of the ACP and Gopi also went viral.

Sources said Gopi was taken into custody by the police and later released on intervention by Kawaljit Singh Karwal. Gopi said he would file a complaint with the All India Congress against fake voting and the Punjab DGP for action.

Manraj’s uncle Jaswinder alleged that he suffered serious fracture on his leg when the group led by Congress leader Karwal attacked him. While denying Jaswinder’s allegations Karwal said he had gone to the venue to stop fake voting, but some Congress workers resorted to firing. Whosoever resorted to firing should face legal action, he added.

Two booked for attempt to murder 

In a clash between workers of the Youth Congress the Model Town police registered an attempt to murder case against party worker Jaswinder Thukral and his nephew Manraj Thukral on the complaint of another party worker Tajinder Singh, son of Jaswant Singh, who suffered a bullet injury on his right leg. Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said a case under Section 307 of the IPC and the Arms Act was registered against the suspects. 

Residents condemn cheap politics

Residents gathered at the spot and condemned the Congress for resorting to cheap politics. “They are setting a wrong precedent if Youth Congress workers fight like this. What are they teaching to youth? It’s ridiculous,” said residents. 

Akali Dal protests workers’ detention 

Leaders of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Badal staged a protest at the Model Town after the police detained party workers after the firing incident during the Youth Congress elections. Later, the police released detained SAD-B workers and the protest ended. The protest was led by senior SAD-B leader Harbhajan Singh Dang, Youth Akali Dal district president Gurdeep Singh Gosha, Surinder Kaur Dyal and Kuldeep Singh Khalsa. Gosha said Akali Dal workers had come to attend a meeting at the Model Town gurdwara. Meanwhile, firing incident during the Congress Youth Congress poll was reported to the police, he added. Instead of taking action against Youth Congress workers for firing and violence, the police detained SAD workers, who came to attend the party meeting, he said.