M A I N   N E W S

Akali leader’s kin open fire, booked
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, December 9
Three days after an ASI was shot dead by an Akali leader over an eveteasing incident involving his daughter, two close relatives of the ruling party were booked for firing in the air at a public place last night at a Muktsar village.

Sources said two nephews of Sant Singh Brar, the Akali Dal’s Gidderbaha constituency in charge, had last night gone to Doda to take possession of nearly two-and-a-half marlas of land worth nearly Rs 12 lakh. The land reportedly belonged to Tejvinder Singh.

The two — Gurbhej Singh and Kala Singh — of Kauni village were reportedly accompanied by four others — Mandar Singh and Balveer Singh, Iqbal Singh and Sukhpal Singh.

Sources said they opened fire to create panic. “The accused first consumed liquor on the roadside and thereafter opened fire,” said a source.

A police team reached the place and after recording the statements of some eyewitnesses and Tejvinder Singh, registered a case against all of them under section 336 of the IPC and 25,27,54, 59 of the Arms Act at the Kot Bhai police station.

“As per the complaint of Tejvinder Singh, we have booked six persons, including Gurbhej and Kala, for opening fire. We are investigating the reason behind it. But the accused are yet to be arrested,” said DSP Gidderbaha, Darshan Singh. Local Congress MLA Amrinder Singh “Raja” Warring reached the spot and demanded that a case of attempt to murder under section 307 of the IPC be slapped against the accused.

However, Kuljeet Singh “Monty” Brar, elder son of Sant Singh Brar, while talking on phone, said, “Gurbhej and Kala are our relatives. They had not gone to Doda to create panic. They were returning from a wedding party. Some of their known persons were celebrating a birthday on the roadside. The revellers opened fire. They also joined them and opened two rounds of fire in the air. The fire was not opened with the intention of creating panic.”