Three killed in group clash at Garhshankar village

Panic gripped Moranwali village in Garhshankar tehsil after three persons were killed and one was seriously injured in a clash between two groups on Saturday.

Members of both groups allegedly used sharp-edged weapons and firearms to attack each other. The police are, however, denying that bullets were fired during the clash.

According to information, Gurpreet Singh, alias Gopi, and his companion set out on their vehicle from his house around 11.30 am. After covering around 100 metres, they entered into a clash with members of another group outside the house of one Manpreet Singh, alias Mani.

Gurpreet’s companion allegedly entered Manpreet’s house and attacked him, Sukhtiar Singh, alias Sukha, and Sharandeep Singh with sharp-edged weapons. They also damaged two Bullet motorcycles parked outside the house. According to sources, both groups hurled abuses at each other.

Later, villagers took three seriously injured youths to a hospital where doctors declared them dead.

Injured Gurpreet Singh was also admitted to the Garhshankar Civil Hospital. He was later referred to the PGI, Chandigarh, as his condition was critical.

Sources said there was a fight between the two groups on October 26 too. On that day, “jago” ritual was being performed in connection with the marriage of Gurpreet’s sister. Meanwhile, some members of the other group reached there and started creating loud bangs using their motorcycles that had modified silencers.

Gopi’s family had lodged a police complaint in connection with the incident on the police helpline number 112. Had the Garhshankar police taken timely action on that complaint, today’s clash could have been averted, sources said.

Addressing a press conference in the evening, Hoshiarpur SSP Surendra Lamba said injured Gurpreet Singh and Deepak Preet Singh were under medical treatment in police custody. The police had rounded up five suspects so far, he added. Strict action would be taken against the culprits in the case. Asked about firing, the SSP said the investigation so far did not substantiate such claims.

Man shot dead by bike-borne assailants

• A man was shot dead by four bike-borne assailants in Garhshankar around 7.30 pm on Saturday
• Balwinder Singh (35), alias Gola, was reportedly in his fields at Roadmazara village when four unidentified persons reached there on two on two motorcycles
• After ascertaining his name, they opened fire on him; bullets hit Balwinder in the chest. The killers escaped from the spot thereafter
• Balwinder was taken to the local Civil Hospital, Garhshankar, where the doctors declared him dead