21 Aam Aadmi Party activists booked in cross-firing case

Twenty-one activists of the ruling AAP government have been booked in a cross case of firing on each other at Cheema Kalan village in Patti sub-division. The incident occurred on Sunday night and the police registered a case on Monday. The panchayat election is the root cause of the incident.

AAP senior leader Ranjit Singh Cheema, Chairman, Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation, is a native of Cheema Kalan village. Cheema in his complaint to the Patti Sadar police stated that on the night of October 22 some armed assailants fired at the gate of his residence. On his complaint, the police booked Gurjant Singh, Sikandar Singh, Balwinder Singh Fauji, Sahib Singh, Amritpal Singh, Karwinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh Billi, Daler Singh and Karanvir Singh, all residents of Cheema Kalan village.

Ranjit Singh Cheema told the police that the assailants had threated his family. He demanded police protection for his family. He said none of his family members was injured in the firing incident as they managed to hide themselves in rooms of the house.

Gurjant Singh of the other group in his complaint to the police stated that he along with his brother Sikandar Singh were standing outside their house on October 20 when armed men came on the spot on tractor and motorcycles and fired at them, however, they managed to escape unhurt. ASI Gurmeet Singh on the complaint of Gurjant Singh booked Kuldeep Singh, Baljit Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Jagroop Singh, Jugraj Singh, Kala, Gurpartap Singh, Jagpreet Singh, Talwinder Singh, Khushpal Singh and Simranjit Singh of Cheema Kalan village in this connection.

Ranjit Singh Cheema said though the panchayat election was held peacefully and his supporter was elected sarpanch of the village, he had been receiving threats since the.

When contacted, Inspector Gurcharan Singh, SHO, Patti Sadar police station, DSP Kawalpreet Singh and SP (Investigation) Ajayraj Singh denied to respond to queries regarding the firing incident.

ASI Gurpreet Singh said in all, 21 suspects of both sides had been booked, but no one was arrested in this connection. A senior police officer on the condition of anonymity said an internal party conflict was being cited as the reason behind the incident. A case under Sections 109, 61(2), 190 and 191 of the BNS and Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered against both groups of the AAP activists.

Cases registered on basis of two plaints

AAP senior leader Ranjit Singh Cheema, Chairman, Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Corporation, complained to the Patti Sadar police that on the night of October 22, some armed assailants fired at the gate

of his residence. On his complaint, the police booked 10 residents of Cheema Kalan village. Gurjant Singh of the other group in his complaint to the police stated that he along with his brother Sikandar Singh were standing outside their house on October 20 when armed men came on the spot and fired at them.

On his complaint, the police booked 11 residents of Cheema Kalan village.