Last-minute firing spoils peaceful atmosphere

Nikhil Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 21

Barring minor incidents of exchange of heated arguments between the workers of political parties, Dakha bypoll remained by and large peaceful, but the last-minute firing incident at Jangpur polling booth spoiled the entire peaceful atmosphere. There was no incident of clash and major scuffle between workers throughout the day.

It was around 6.05 pm, that Akali worker Gurpreet Singh Gopi (26) suffered a bullet injury near the polling booth on Monday evening after arguments allegedly with Congress workers. The polling process was already completed when the incident took place.

SAD candidate Manpreet Singh Ayali categorically leveled allegation on the Congress leader Daljit Singh Bhola Grewal for firing at Akali worker. He alleged Bhola came there to capture booth to do fake voting, but when Akali workers protested, he fired at them and one bullet hit Gopi on his thigh.

Gopi is presently undergoing treatment at DMC Hospital, where his condition is stated to be normal.

Minor incidents of clashes, arguments reported

• Congress workers allegedly attempted to manhandle the grandson of a former Akali sarpnach of Mandiani village in Dakha constituency outside the polling booth. Gurmukh Singh, kin of the youth, said Congress workers hurled abusive remarks against Akali worker on the pretext that the latter mocked him. No complaint was submitted by Akali worker in the case after the case was resolved with the intervention of other party workers. 
• Activists of Congress and Lok Insaf Party allegedly scuffled at Talwandi and Khanjarwal villages near Mullanpur Dakha. However, the issue was resolved by the intervention of seniors at both places. The situation became tense at Talwandi after Congress activists led by senior leader Kanwaljit Karwal allegedly tore a LIP banner. Supporters of LIP candidate Sukhdev Singh Chakk were reported to have confronted councillor Harkaran Vaid (son of MLA Kuldeep Vaid), when he arrived at Khanjarwal village on the pretext of poll code violation. 
• Congress and Akali workers exchanged heated arguments at Gorsian Kadar Baksh village outside the polling booth but these did not take any ghastly turn as election officials intervened and sorted the issue on the spot 
• Akali workers levelled allegation of allowing fake votes at booth no. 168, 169 in Dakha. Workers in large numbers gathered outside the booth, where the situation become tense for some time. However, the allegations could not be proved later.