5 held for attack on sarpanch’s hubby, daughter’s abduction

The Jalandhar police have arrested five persons in connection with a brutal attack on Gurdawar Singh, husband of the sarpanch of Selkiana village, and the alleged kidnapping of his daughter on May 14.

The police had busted a drug trafficking network at Ganna village, with the arrest of key drug supplier woman Sukhi, alias Mato. Sukhi’s disclosure led to the arrest of the five accused. The police also said Sukhi used to procure drugs from Rano Devi, infamous drug peddler wanted by the NCB, who was arrested two days ago.

The arrested accused in the sarpanch case have been identified as Taranjit Singh of Gharkhana, Samrala, Ludhiana; Gurinder Singh of Man Nagar, Daba Road, Ludhiana; Mani Bhatia of Zirakpur, Mohali; Gurwinder Singh of Sahnewal, Ludhiana; and Amritpal Singh of village Seh, Samrala, Ludhiana.

A case was registered under multiple sections of the IPC — 307 (attempt to murder), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324, 452 (house trespass), and 363 (kidnapping) at the Phillaur police station on May 14.

The accused had attacked Gurdawar Singh, husband of Selkiana village sarpanch Rashpal Kaur, at his residence, leaving him severely injured. Armed with sharp-edged weapons, the miscreants vandalised his home and kidnapped his daughter. Following detailed investigations, the police arrested five individuals, who were also involved in drug trafficking at Ganna village.

The accused are aides of Bunty and attacked the sarpanch’s home allegedly due to Bunty’s alleged love affair with the sarpanch’s married daughter. The police said Bunty is still at large and the sarpanch’s daughter was with him.

SSP Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said, “Sukhi’s revelations led to the arrest of the five accused and the police are on the lookout for Bunty. This operation not only solved the sarpanch attack case, but also led to the unearthing of a drug racket. The operation was conducted under the supervision of DSP Sarwan Singh of Phillaur and SHO Sukhdev Singh of Phillaur Police Station.”

The SSP said Sukhi informed the police about the five men’s involvement in the sarpanch case and also informed that Rano Devi supplied drugs. He said, “The sarpanch’s daughter also later released a video, stating that she accompanied Bunty on her own and it was not kidnapping.”