SAD sarpanch among 14 booked for murder bid ›

The accused are wine contractors and they were nurturing a grudge against us as we are opposing their illegal wine shops in some villages of the area. KANWALBIR SINGH, the victim

TARN TARAN: Police have booked 14 people, including a Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sarpanch and three party workers, for allegedly firing at two brothers at Rashiana village in the district.

As per the first information report (FIR), the incident took place on December 5, but the police registered the case on Tuesday night, saying the victim lodged the complaint on Tuesday.

The accused were identified as Bhupinder Singh Bhinda, sarpanch of Fatehabad village and a close aide of SAD MP Ranjit Singh Brahmpura, SAD worker Malkiat Singh, Sandeep Kumar Simpy (former SAD sarpanch of Fatehabad), Surjit Singh Illi (SAD panchayat member) and Bau Shinda.

The nine other accused have not been named by the police yet.

Accused Bhupinder and Malkiat are both wine contractors.

In his complaint with the police, Kanwalbir Singh, 36, of Dulchipur village stated that he, his brother Sartaj Singh and friend Swaraj Singh were walking in Rashiana village when the accused came and started firing. “I and my brother received serious bullet injuries,” he said.

Kanwalbir said he and his brother were rushed to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar, and they filed a complaint only after being discharged from the hospital.

He said, “The accused are wine contractors and they were nurturing a grudge against us as we are opposing their illegal wine shops in some villages of the area.”

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Kirpal Singh said a case under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (house trespass), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 148 (rioting) of the IPC had been registered against the accused.

“All the accused are on the run, but we will arrest them soon,” he added.