Lambi constituency witnesses violence over Sarpanch’s election

Monday, 15/06/2015

http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=133205&boxid=58161&uid=&dat=2015-06-15

In the bloody clash between the two Akali factions, followed by Police action, three Policemen also sustained injuries

Panniwala Fatta (Muktsar):Allegations of bogus voting, stone pelting, lathi charge and finally the Police firing marred the elections for one seat of Sarpanch at village Panniwala Fatta in the Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home constituency Lambi in Muktsar district on Sunday.

In the bloody clash between the two Akali factions, followed by Police action, besides various Akali activists, some commoners and three Policemen also sustained injuries. As the village Sarpanch had died recently, the State Election Commission had announced the fresh polls for Sunday. The seat was reserved for SC candidates and there was no allotment of symbol for the same.

Four candidates, Gurdarshan Singh, Mandar Singh, Jaspal Singh and Kewal Singh, all belonging to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), but different factions, were in fray for the seat.

Finally, Gurdarshan Singh Kala, who claimed to have the patronage of Chief Minister’s OSD Gurcharan Singh, was declared winner and Mander Singh was announced the nearest rival. According to reports, since the polling was declared open, tension was prevailing in the polling station. Intermittently, the contestants were accusing each other of indulged in bogus voting.

Meanwhile, villagers learnt that three of the candidates except Gurdarshan Singh Kala were confined in a room inside the polling station, which led to a major commotion.

Their supporters, raising anti-establishment slogans, blocked the road in protest. Meanwhile, few among them even resorted to stone pelting inside the polling station, which injured atleast three cops deputed inside the polling station.

Finding the things going out of control, a huge posse of cops led by Superintendent of Police Balraj Singh, assisted by SHO Lambi and SHO Kabarwala and various other officials rushed the spot.

With the agitators not agreeing to listen to their repeated appeals and rather indulging in scuffle with them, Police resorted to lathicharge and even some bullets were shot in the air to disperse them all.

Some unconfirmed reports suggested that Police detained over a dozen of violent protesters from the spot and took them away to some Police Stations. Later, the market in village was closed down.

Those Policemen sustained injuries included Head Constable Paloos Singh, Constables Sharan Singh and Bhagirath. They were admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) Alamwala village, as learnt.

Speaking to media persons, SP Balraj Singh said, “We are about to register a case against nearly a dozen of violent protesters by name as they have been identified and few others would be mentioned in the FIR whose identity is yet to be ascertained.”

Rejecting having any report of detention of three contestants in a room inside the polling station, the SP said the situation took an ugly turn after the contestants had verbal dual and the rumours, which were running think and fast, reached with their supporters outside and they resorted to take law in their hands.