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Man shot dead in Faridkot hospital after group clash
Six supporters of rival Akali leaders injured
Balwant Garg/TNS

Faridkot, April 9
One person was killed and six others seriously injured when two groups owing allegiance to rival SAD leaders clashed in the Jaitu area of Faridkot this evening. Members of one group barged into Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, where injured leader of the rival group was admitted after a clash at Ram Lila Chowk of Jaitu town earlier in the evening. Seven injured members of the two groups were admitted to the Faridkot hospital following the clash.

Despite heavy police deployment at the medical college, members of one group barged into the emergency ward of the medical college around 7.30 pm and opened fire, killing Ranjit Singh, the leader of the rival group.

Gurbax Singh, who was accompanying Ranjit Singh, was critically injured and was taken to Ludhiana. Faridkot SSP Gurpreet Singh Toor said the police was yet to confirm Ranjit Singh’s death.

The police believes there was an old enmity between the groups owing allegiance to two senior Akali leaders — a former minister and an incumbent parliamentary secretary. The police has arrested Chamkaur Singh for allegedly killing Ranjit Singh in the hospital and seized a firearm from him.

The groups led by Ranjit Singh and Sadhu Singh clashed in the main bazaar of Jaitu town around 5.30 pm. Sadhu Singh, his three sons, his nephew and two others sustained serious injuries in the incident.

As the injured were taken to the Faridkot hospital, both groups approached the police fearing threat to the lives of those injured at the hospital. A heavy police force was deployed in and around the hospital at Faridkot.

While the injured were undergoing treatment in the emergency ward, Sadhu Singh’s nephew Chamkaur Singh allegedly entered the hospital and opened fire at Ranjit Singh and Gurbax Singh, the police said. The Faridkot SSP said the situation was under control.