Chandigarh, October 23
At least three persons were injured when Congressmen came to blows in Karnal today where the Haryana Congress President, Mr Bhajan Lal, had gone to mourn the death of Kailash, a Dalit killed by a mob in Jhajjar district on October 15, according to information received here.

The incident has taken place only two days after the AICC Secretary in charge of the party affairs in Haryana, Mr V. Hanumantha Rao, presided over a meeting of the District Congress Committee chiefs here to bring about unity in the faction-ridden party.

Mr Rao was present in Karnal when the Congressmen clashed.

According to reports, Mr Bhajan Lal, accompanied by Mr Rao, was to reach the Karnal PWD rest house around 11 a.m. A large number of his supporters had collected at the rest house. The President of the Karnal DCC (Rural), Mr Kuldip Sharma, also reached there to welcome the senior party leaders. Mr Sharma alleged that certain supporters of Mr Bhajan Lal insulted him but he kept his cool.

When the senior leaders reached the rest house, supporters of Mr Bhajan Lal and Mr Sharma raised slogans in favour of their respective leaders. During the slogan shouting, a clash ensued in which Mr Krishan Sharma of Bastara village, Mr Virender Sharma and Mr Sri Chand Sharma, both of Karnal, were injured.

Mr Bhajan Lal intervened and asked his supporters not to raise any slogans since it was a solemn occasion. Mr Sharma is also believed to have advised his supporters likewise.

However, the bitterness did not end between the two groups. Mr Sharma alleged that he was not allowed to sit on a chair by a supporter of Mr Bhajan Lal. He also alleged that when the Congress leaders reached the house of Kailash in Ravidas Pura locality, near Hansi Chowk, he was stopped from going inside the house by certain supporters of Mr Bhajan Lal. It was only after the intervention of certain elderly partymen that he could go inside.

Mr Sharma later on complained to Mr Bhajan Lal about the misbehaviour with him by certain partymen. Mr Bhajan Lal, it is learnt, promised to look into his complaint.