3 Akali sarpanches among 11 booked for murder bid

TARN TARAN: Police on Tuesday booked 11 persons, including three Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sarpanches, for allegedly attacking Congress workers over Bargari sacrilege in Bhikhiwind, 35km from the district headquarters.

A case under Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object) of Indian Penal Code.

While Section 25, 27, 54, 59 of the Arms Act have been slapped against Amarjit Singh Pahuwind, Harjinder Singh, Harjit Singh, Akali sarpanches of Pahuwind, Bhikhiwind and Balehar villages, respectively; Pahuwind’s son Gurwinder Singh, brother Nirmal Singh and Gursewak Singh.

The five accused are yet to be identified, police said.

Though the incident took place on August 30, police said the case was registered late on Monday evening as both the parties were trying to resolve the issue amicably.

In his complaint to the police, Congress worker Amarjit Singh of Bikhiwind, who works as a bus conductor, said the accused attacked him, transporter Sitara Daliri, his brothers Avtar Singh and Gurpreet on the Amritsar-Khemkaran road in Bhikhiwind following a verbal duel.

The complainant said Pahuwind abused Sitara and blamed the Congress for the Bargari sacrilege.

Soon, Pahuwind took out a rifle from his car and fired a shot at Sitara, alleged the complainant, adding: “the bullet hit me in the right arm. Another accused Harjinder Singh attacked Sitara’s brother Gurpreet with a sword”.

Their accomplice Harjit also fired gunshots with an intention to kill Gurpreet, he alleged.

The accused are yet to be arrested.