PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS: Amritsar woman killed, 4 critically hurt in poll-related violence in state

A woman lost her life and four persons suffered critical injuries in poll-related violence over the past couple of days across the state.

The Amritsar police have arrested four persons in connection with murder of 42-year-old Kuldeep Kaur on October 4, last day of filing nominations, at Kamaska village.

Two more persons, Prem Singh and Shamsher Singh, who also suffered injuries in the same incident, had been admitted to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Lovepreet Singh, son of the deceased, said “We are associated with the Congress. The attackers were from the Aam Aadmi Party.”

Deceased’s husband Balwinder Singh told the police that his aunt Jaspal Kaur, wife of Tarsem Singh, had filed nominations for the post of sarpanch and Daljit Kaur, wife of Mirza Singh, was the other aspirant.

He said a heated exchange of words took place between Surinder Singh, who supported Tarsem’s family, and Major Singh of the other group around 7 pm in the village.

Balwinder said after hearing their screams, Kuldeep went out and tried to save them. He said Sukhdev Singh of the rival group hit her with a wooden log on her head, thus leading to her death on the spot.

In a separate incident, the Jalalabad police have registered a case against the Shiromani Akali Dal’s leaders Vardev Singh, alias Noni Mann, his brother Nardev Singh, alias Bobby Mann, and around 15 to 20 persons for firing at AAP supporters, Mandeep Singh Brar of Mohamad Wala village and Rajesh Kumar, on Saturday near the office of Block Development Panchayat Officer.

Both the victims were admitted to the Jalalabad Civil Hospital. Later, doctors referred Brar, who suffered a bullet injury on the chest, to Ludhiana-based hospital.

The FIR has been filed on the statement of Gurpreet Singh, who has filed papers for the post of sarpanch from Chak Suhele Wala village, and owes allegiance to AAP. The SAD leaders and their supporters have been booked under Sections 109, 115(2), 351 (2), 191 (3) and 190 of the BNS and Section 25 of the Arms Act.

Meanwhile, the Congress workers today staged a dharna outside the residence of Sub Divisional Magistrate in Abohar. They alleged that nomination papers of several outgoing sarpanches and panches were cancelled under political pressure.