38 arrested for attacking cops in Faridkot village

Tension gripped Chandbhan village in Faridkot after a protest over a water drainage dispute turned violent, leading to a clash between protesters and the police. On Wednesday evening, demonstrators blocking the Bathinda-Kotkapura road allegedly pelted police personnel with stones, injuring several officials, including a DSP and an SHO.

The district police conducted a flag march in the village on Thursday. Following a complaint by police official Nachhatar Singh, the Jaito police registered a case against 91 individuals on charges of robbery, snatching, vandalising public property and assaulting police officers.

Among the accused are village sarpanch Amandeep Kaur and her husband Kuldeep Singh. So far, 38 protesters, including three women, have been arrested, said SSP Dr Pragya Jain.

The dispute reportedly arose over the construction of a drainage system in the village. One group accused influential individuals of obstructing the project and alleged the authorities were ignoring their grievances. The protest, led by Amandeep Kaur and Kuldeep Singh, escalated when the police attempted to disperse the crowd, resulting in violent clashes.

SSP Dr Pragya Jain said Kuldeep Singh and his supporters had earlier confronted the former sarpanch at his residence, prompting police intervention. Later on, when officers attempted to mediate during the protest, the demonstrators allegedly attacked them. “The police will take strict legal action against all those involved in the attack on law enforcement personnel,” she said.