3 held for clash in K’shetra village

CLASH HAD ERUPTED ON MONDAY OVER A PIECE OF LAND, WHICH MUSLIMS CLAIMED BELONGED TO THE STATE WAQF BOARD AND WAS MEANT FOR A BURIAL GROUND

KARNAL: A day after a 57-year-old man was killed and 20 others injured in a clash between two communities over the possession of land in Kharindwa village of Kurukshetra district, the police on Friday arrested three people of a community for their involvement in the incident.

Kurukshetra superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Garg has confirmed the development and said investigation was on in the case.

The accused have been identified as Bijender Singh, Randhir Singh of Kharindwa village and Gurpreet Singh of Dhanodi village of the Ambala district. The police said they will be produced in the court on April 25 and their remand would be sought for further interrogation.

The police had booked 200 people — 19 of whom were identified — of a community under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including murder and attempt to murder charges.

Seven people from both groups, including main accused Jashmer Singh and Angrej Singh, had sustained serious injuries and had to be referred to PGIMER, Chandigarh. Two youths, who had received bullet injuries — Rohit and Munish — belonged to the Muslim community.

Meanwhile, burial of the deceased, Mangat Din, was performed by his family members at Kharindwa village on Friday.

Police have currently been deployed at the village to maintain peace.

The clash had erupted on Monday over a piece of land, which Muslims claimed belonged to the state waqf board and was meant for a burial ground, but was in possession of the family of Jasmer Singh Chahal 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 reclaim the land, leading to the clash.