Phagwara, July 1
Panchayat elections have left trail of intense bitterness in Domeli village 16 km from Phagwara, and a stand-off was emerging between two communities.

A visit to the village today revealed that the shops were closed due to panic and there was tension in this remote hamlet of Phagwara Block with heavy police force deployed there. It was learnt that the tension followed the victory of Dalit Jatinder Mohan Ghuggi as Sarpanch over Jat candidate Kulwinder Singh Kinda by 82 votes. Ghuggi is a BSP activist but contested as an Independent and won. A few Jats, led by NRI Harjit Singh, also supported Ghuggi due to traditional rivalry to Mr Kinda of their own caste.

Jats reportedly blocked the pathways leading to the fields from the village on the night of June 29-30 by throwing “chhappas” (thorny bushes) to block entry of Dalits to their fields, particularly in the morning. The blockade was found in the morning yesterday. Today, the “chhappas” (thorny bushes) were missing. The land taken on “theka” (lease) by a few Dalits from Phira Lambar and Pamma of Jat community for fodder for cattle was also found ploughed by tractors and animals were seen eating the fodder. The Dalits immediately made a complaint with the Rawalpindi police post.

Meanwhile, when the new Sarpanch Jatinder Mohan Ghuggi went to pay obeisance at the “Kutya” of Sant Baba Dalip Singh in village yesterday along with his supporters including NRI Jat Harjit Singh, he was attacked with lathis and sharp-edged weapons by the rival Jat groups leading to minor injuries to six persons including Sarpanch and his NRI supporter basides Lakha Singh, Jaswinder Tungi, Toni, Sodhi and Rimpi. The police denied use of sharp-edged weapons but reluctantly admitted that both groups had used invectives against each other. The Dalits alleged that the assailants were led by Harnek Singh alias Neki, Guggu, son of defeated candidate, Phira Lambar, his son Hardeep, Tirath Singh Giani, Didar Singh Madda, Minder Singh Tehal, Vicky etc. The assailants numbered about 24, they said. They alleged that police took into custody two persons yesterday but they were released later due to political pressure. The police denied it.

The Dalits today gave three complaints to local SP Harmanbir Singh Gill who marked these to Rawalpindi police post for action. In these complaints the Dalits had alleged that the Jats had declared their social boycott, put up barricades on the pathways, ploughed their fodder and attacked them.

They said that the rivalry was between two groups of Jats but it had spilled over to the other side because NRI Harjit Singh, a Jat, had sided with a Dalit in the election for the post of Sarpanch. Local SDM Pritam Singh, when contacted, said that some kind of minor tension had came up following panchayat elections in the village. He, however, added that he was awaiting police report. Local SP Harmanbir Singh Gill could not be contacted even after repeated attempts as he was said to be in the field. Even though administration is not viewing the incident as a Dalit-Jats face-off yet heavy police force is deployed in the village to avoid any untoward incidence and about six persons from the Jats’ side had been reportedly rounded up.