Amritsar Villagers Clash Again: Allege Cops Hand In Glove With Gang Of Robbers Active In The Area

[genie]

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Bal Khurd (Amritsar), August 4

A day after the police-residents clash at Kathunangal in the Majitha constituency, another clash erupted between police personnel and residents of Bal Khurd village, located on the Amritsar- Fatehgarh Churian road, this morning. The police had to use tear gas shells, fire into the air and resort to a lathi charge to disperse the unruly mob. Stones and bricks were thrown at the policemen. Avtar Singh, driver of a police bus, was reportedly injured.

Trouble began after a confrontation between a police party of the Kamboh police station and village residents on theekri pehra (night patrol).

A police party headed by Sub-Inspector Mohan Singh was stopped by village residents. The policemen were asked to show their identification papers. The villagers alleged that there were sharp-edged weapons in the police vehicle. Some residents reportedly accused the police of being hand in glove with a gang of criminals active in the area.

This led to an ugly argument and the village residents gheraoed the police team. They let the police team go on the intervention of senior police officers but did not allow them to take away their vehicle. The following morning, they blocked the Amritsar-Fatehgarh Churian road and a heavy police force was called in. As the residents saw a bus carrying policemen, they started throwing stones. The policemen had to fire into the air to disperse the crowd.

As the policemen entered the village, residents standing on rooftops starting throwing bricks at them.

Jasdeep Singh, Superintendent of Police (Amritsar- Rural) said the weapons found in the police vehicle had been confiscated. Instructions had been issued to all police teams to seize such weapons from those on theekri pehra.

He said a case had been registered against unidentified persons for preventing the policemen from discharging their duty.

Meanwhile, several persons have been booked for the attack on the police party at Kathunangal Khurd yesterday. An attempt to murder case has been registered on Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jugraj Singh's statement.

The latter, an international hockey player, was injured in the attack.