Deceased’s kin block Airport Road with body in Mohali

A day after a 17-year-old youth was stabbed to death and another fatally injured in Kumbhra, hundreds of residents blocked the Airport Road by parking an ambulance, carrying the body, in the middle of the road.

The residents demanded the arrest of the absconding assailants and criticised the police for the deteriorating law and order in the city. Traffic remained blocked on the road for more than hours as the protesters argued with the police officials. SP Harbir Singh Atwal and DSP City-2 Harsimran Singh Bal had a tough time negotiating with the protesters.

Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu said, “Law and order have completely crumbled in Mohali. MLA Kulwant Singh is evading the public eye even though the body is lying near the AAP’s office. The assailants have fled to UP. Those behind the assailants should also be taken to task," he said.

SAD leader Parminder Singh Sohana resorted to sloganeering against the Phase 8 SHO and the Punjab Government.

"All the assailants were staying in a nearby PG without any tenant verification. What was the police doing until now? The assailants, migrant workers, have fled to UP, but the police are not doing anything. We demand action be taken against the PG’s owner," said a family member of the deceased, sitting alongside the victim’s mother on the road.

The row is taking a ‘locals versus migrant workers’ turn as the protesters allege this is the second such incident to have taken place recently.

SP Atwal said, "The fight started over the parking of a bicycle, after which the assailants returned with sharp-edged weapons to stab the victims. Their phones are switched off now. Police teams have gone to arrest them. We are also checking the PG owners' documents, and action will be taken against him also according to the law."

Daman Singh (17) was stabbed to death in the throat, while Dilpreet Singh’s (16) eye was allegedly gouged out by a violent group of miscreants near Kumbhra village in Mohali on Wednesday evening.

Kumbhra Councillor Ravinder Singh Bindra said, "Dilpreet is battling for his life in the hospital. There were four assailants around 16-17 years old. The incident has been recorded on a CCTV camera."