CHANDIGARH May 13 — The ongoing tussle between the Badal and Tohra Akali factions today took a violent turn when at a meeting held at Guru Gobind Singh College here blows were exchanged, and firearms brandished. The police had a tough time disengaging both the groups.

The bone of contention was capturing the Sikh Educational Society which manages seven colleges —two in Chandigarh and five in Punjab.

At saperate press conferences both groups claimed that they had a majority of society members with them and had won the election. Former SGPC chief, Gurcharan Singh Tohra said he had been elected president, Mr Gurdev Singh vice president and Mr Bharpur Singh Secretary.

On the other hand SGPC President Bibi Jagir Kaur said she had been elected president, Mr Sucha Singh Langah and Mr Habhajan Singh Punnu had been elected vice-president, and secretary respectively.

After winning the elections of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee in Delhi, it was another planned move by the Badal group to oust the Tohra group from yet another important Sikh organisation. The plan appeared to be designed by Bibi Jagir Kaur with the approval of the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal.

In fact, a senior minister in the Badal Cabinet, Mr Sucha Singh Langah,who is considered close to the Chief Minister, was reportedly involved in the excercise

Mr Tohra said the group led by Mr Sucha Singh tried to snatch the proceedings book from him after the conclusion of the meeting. He alleged that Mr Langah snatched the microphone from him and started making announcements. Mr Tohra said when he resisted the taking away of the proceedings book, Mr Langah snatched an AK-47 rifle from his security guard and assaulted Mr Prem Singh Chandumajra, injuring one of his fingures. Mr Tohra also alleged that a gunman of Mr Langah pointed his rifle at him ( Mr Tohra).

Immediately a scuffle ensued and in the melee it was a free for all. Mr Tohra alleged it was a well planned attack on him and his supporters . He said he had won the elections as a majority of the members of the society were with him. He said Bibi Jagir Kaur had nominated 30 members to the society illegally by removing permanent life members.

However, Bibi Jagir Kaur claimed the supporters of Mr Tohra were in the minority and they had deliberately resorted to violence to disturb the election process. She said she had 51 out of the 94 members with her. She also alleged that the police supported the Tohra faction and worked against her supporters.

She said the general body meeting held after the lection under her chairmanship passed the budget of the society for the current year. She, however, failed to give the amount of the budget or any other detail.

Though Mr Bharpur Singh said a complaint had been lodged with the police regarding today’s incidents in the college, inquiries made from the police revealed that no case has been registered so far. It could not be known whether policemen was also injured in the scuffle.