Nihang Baba Budha Dal Chief Escaped Unhurt In Attack

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http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/14830/38/

Nihang Baba Budha Dal chief escaped unhurt in attack

GAGANDEEP AHUJA

Tuesday, 13 January 2009

PATIALA: Budha Dal Nihang chief, Baba Balbir Singh escaped unhurt when armed assailants ambushed his convoy near village Bhagi Bandar in Bathinda district this morning. The assailants pumped a volley of bullets into his bullet proof vehicle injuring one person.

Police sources said that the assailants, who had taken cover behind roadside trees and bushes and on the rooftop of an abandoned house opened fire on the bullet proof vehicle in which the Baba was seated alongwith his gunman and driver.

While the Nihang chief and his driver escaped unhurt, gunman Paramjit Singh was injured. He was later admitted at a hospital in Talwandi Sabo and was stated to be out of danger.

The assailants fled after pumping 10 to 12 bullets into the bullet proof vehicle. The Baba alongwith his supporters was on his way to attend the Maghi Mela at Muktsar.

It is supected that a rival group in the Budha Dal was behind the attack. Baba Balbir Singh had succeeded Baba Santa Singh as the Budha Dal chief and the succession was opposed by a section of the Budha Dal, including the relatives of the late, Baba Santa Singh.

Meanwhile, Baba Balbir Singh has demanded z plus security cover for him as Punjab police had failed to provide him adequate security cover.

Talking to The Pioneer over phone, he said that he has been receiving threatening calls from persons of his rival group. The matter has already brought in the notice of Patiala SSP SK Asthana and Punjab Government but all have given cold shouldered to his request, he alleged.

He said that killers of his father, two brothers and nephew has been moving freely in Patiala but police ahs failed to arrest them.

Earlier, four 'Nihang' Sikhs were killed in a bloody clash with a rival faction at the Baba Buddha Dal Chhawni (camp) here on September 21, 2007, Baba Balbir Singh's father Asha Singh, brothers Bhajan Singh and Jagdish Singh and nephew Karan Singh were killed in group clash. Dal Chief late Baba Santa Singh, had declared Baba Balbir Singh as the successor Dal on April 9 2007.

Baba also added that he has already filed a writ petition seeking z plus security cover for him which was still pending in the court.