Student union issue sparks clash in Malout; youth injured, 8 arrested after police firing

Amid tension over the appointment of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) president at DAV College, Malout, a youth sustained a bullet injury on his shoulder on Wednesday evening after some miscreants attacked a police party.

The police said an SUV first rammed into their official vehicle on Sitto Road, then its occupants opened fire, prompting the police to return fire.

As many as 10 youngsters have been booked under attempt to murder, the Arms Act and other serious charges for allegedly attacking the police party. Eight of them have been arrested, one got injured, and one managed to escape.

Malout DSP Iqbal Singh today said that a police team — led by Inspector Harpreet Singh, SHO of the Malout City police station — was patrolling in view of possible unrest over the student union issue, as one Manpreet Singh Manna of Ennakhera village was to be announced as the president of DAV College, Malout. Acting on a tip-off, the team signalled a car coming from Chhapianwali village on Defence Road to stop. Instead of stopping, the driver rammed the SUV into the police vehicle, he added.

The DSP said, “Gaurav Kumar alias Billa of Malout, who has six criminal cases in the past, opened fire at the police team. The police retaliated with gunfire. The miscreants then sped away, but Billa got down midway and managed to escape while firing shots. We later set up a blockade with the help of Lambi police and intercepted the vehicle. Eight youths travelling in the SUV were arrested.”

Those arrested have been identified as Vikram Chaudhary, Ashok Kumar alias Tota, Mohit Kumar alias Boni, Anmol Kumar, Shamir, Lucky, and Ravinder Kumar alias Talli — all residents of Malout — and Gurdeep Singh alias Deepu of Abul Khurana village. Five of them have previous criminal records.

The injured, Boota Ram of Shergarh village, was admitted to a private hospital in Bathinda. However, Billa managed to escape.

The police officials also suffered minor injuries and the vehicle was partially damaged.

NSUI is a student wing of the Congress. Muktsar district Congress president Shubhdeep Singh Bittu, who is also the president of the Malout Municipal Council, said, “The programme of the NSUI concluded at about 1.30 pm yesterday. We have no role in any kind of violence.”