The incident, which was reported from Sultanpur Lodhi, saw five others injured in a firing between Nihangs and cops at Gurdwara Akal Bunga.
Published Nov 23, 2023 | 11:06 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 23, 2023 | 11:06 PM
Nihang Sikhs. (Wikimedia Commons)
With Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Parv a few days away, tensions gripped Punjab as a cop was shot to death by Nihang Sikhs during a power struggle at a Gurudwara in Kapurthala.
The incident, which was reported from Sultanpur Lodhi, saw five others injured in a firing between Nihangs and cops at Gurdwara Akal Bunga.
Tensions have been prevailing between two groups of Nihangs over control of the gurdwara since Tuesday morning and police were there to clear the people.
Kapurthala SSP Vatsla Gupta, on Wednesday, issued a statement that Nihang leader Baba Balbir Singh of Budha Dal has been in control of the gurdwara for the last few years. On Tuesday morning, a group of 15-20 Nihangs, led by his rival Mann Singh, came there and attacked them.
They also tried to take control of another dera of Baba Balbir Singh at Bussowal village road on Wednesday where police intervened and arrested 10. The rivalry between the two groups has been ongoing since March 2020 in which one person was killed.
Police tried to persuade the Nihang group led by Mann Singh to leave the place on Wednesday but they refused, stating that the gurdwara originally belonged to them and police were unfair to them. They had even said that this time, they were ready for a do-or-die battle.
On Thursday morning, police began a fresh and major operation to remove them during which Nihangs started firing at them and one police personnel, Jaspal Singh, was killed on the spot.
Meanwhile, all senior police officials reached the spot to diffuse the tension through talks. Punjab Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said that five Nihangs were arrested in connection with the incident and three weapons were recovered from them.
Compensation of around ₹2 crore was announced for the deceased cop and assurance of a job in the police force for his child. The government has assured strict action against the accused.
Meanwhile, the opposition has trained its guns at Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government for law and order failure in the state.
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa asked Bhagwant Mann to quit.
“Enough is enough. If you cannot handle the state’s law and order, you have no right to remain in this position. Just leave and let someone else do the job,” he reprimanded the Punjab Chief Minister.
To restore law and order, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Karnail Singh has imposed Section 145 of Code of Criminal Procedure at the gurdwara and barred both the factions of Nihangs from the gurdwara.
