1 killed, 20 hurt in communal clash in Kurukshetra village
SP says situation under control, cops keeping vigil
KURUKSHETRA: A 57-year-old man was killed and 20 people were injured in a clash between two communities over the possession of a land in Kharindwa village of Kurukshetra district on Monday.
The clash erupted over a piece of land, which Muslims claim, belongs to the state waqf board and was meant for a burial ground, but was in possession of the family of Jasmer Singh, a Sikh, for the past 50 years.
In January this year, the members of Muslim community had taken the possession of the land, but on Monday Jamser, along with others, allegedly tried to take back the possession of the land, leading to clash.
The deceased has been identified as Mangat Deen. The injured belong to both the groups. Rohit and Monis of Muslim community sustained bullet injuries and were taken to PGI Chandigarh. Three Sikhs with serious injuries, including main accused Jasmer Singh and Angrej Singh, were also referred to the PGI Chandigarh.
Kurukshetra SP Abhishek Garg, who rushed to the spot after the clash, said, “One person was killed and several others sustained injuries in the clash. The investigations are on.”
The police have been deployed in the village and the situation was under control, the SP said.
“The land belongs to our forefathers and we have also won the case in the district court. Now the matter is pending with the Punjab and Haryana high court. But the members of the other community tried to take possession of the land and attacked us with sharpedged weapons,” injured Jamser Singh told mediapersons.
On the other hand, injured Sohan Lal, who belongs to Muslim community, said that in January they had taken possession of the land meant for the burial ground, but members of the Sikh community attacked them to get the possession forcibly.
On the complaint of Rukmuddin , the police registered an FIR against 200 people of the Sikh community, including 19 by name, under charges of murder and attempt to murder.