Days ahead the Punjab civic body polls, violent clashes were witnessed at Jalalabad on Tuesday between the workers of Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress in which attempt to murder case has been registered against local Congress MLA Raminder Singh Awla, his son and 60 other unnamed accused.
Besides stone-pelting at SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal’s vehicle, gunshots were also fired allegedly leaving three Akali workers injured when the SAD and Congress workers came to blows during the filing of nomination papers for Jalalabad municipal polls in Fazilka district. The last date for filing nominations is February 3 (Wednesday).
SAD chief Sukhbir escaped unhurt in the incident but his car was damaged.
Even as the exact sequence of events was not known, Youth Akali Dal chief Parambans Singh Romana said that the attack occurred at Jalalabad SDM’s office where Akali Dal president Sukhbir Badal had accompanied party candidates to file nomination for the MC elections.
Romana alleged that it was an attack on Sukhbir Badal as his SUV too was pelted with stones. “Sukhbir Badal is unhurt, though attackers opened fire at his bullet-proof car and pelted stones too,” he said. Sources said that Sukhbir was sitting on the front seat of his State Government-provided bulletproof SUV when a mob pelted stones inside the SDM office at Jalalabad. There was no security personnel or pilot vehicle in front of his SUV.
Fazilka SSP Harjit Singh confirmed that four persons were injured, but their identity and party affiliation was being ascertained. He added that the gunshots were fired, but it is yet to be known who fired and at whom.
Condemning the murderous attack by police-backed Congress goons, SAD demanded the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s resignation citing the complete breakdown in the law and order situation in the State.
“A high level judicial inquiry should be held into this attack under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High court as the heinous act seems to enjoy State patronage,” said SAD leader Daljit Singh Cheema.
He said that the Chief Minister is not only helpless in front of these mafias but also seems to have directed the State police not to act against them.
Cheema also condemned the firing done by goons led by Congress legislator Raminder Awla’s son on the occasion, claiming that three Akali workers had suffered bullet injuries.
