Seven people have been arrested by the Punjab police after a group dressed as ‘Nihangs’ allegedly attacked personnel on duty and chopped off a policeman’s hand in Patiala district.
An Assistant Sub Inspector’s hand was chopped off and two other officials were injured when the group dressed as ‘Nihangs’ (Sikhs armed with traditional weapons) attacked personnel on duty.
The group, reportedly carrying swords and iron rods, was at Sanaur vegetable market and had a tiff with mandi board officials when they were asked to maintain social distancing and wait in queues to get vegetables. As police intervened and asked one of them for curfew passes, the group attacked the personnel on duty.
“They were asked to show [curfew] passes. But they crashed the vehicle against the the gate and barricades put up there,” Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, Mandeep Singh Sidhu said. The group then attacked the police personnel on duty, he said.
“An ASI's (Assistant Sub Inspector) hand was chopped off by a sword. A Station House Officer of Sadar Patiala sustained an injury on his elbow and another official suffered an injury on his arm in the attack,” Sidhu said.
The ASI was rushed to the Rajindra hospital where from he was referred to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh. The police also registered a case of attempt to murder against the accused. The Nihangs fled the scene after the attack, the SSP said.
The group then fled to Gurdwara Khichri Sahib. Police teams led by SSP Sidhu, sealed the area, erected a three-tier security and directed the fugitives to surrender. The group initially refused to surrender after police made repeated announcements, with even Nihang leaders too issuing an appeal.
After a stand-off of almost four hours and firing, the group was arrested. While authorities confirmed the arrest of seven ‘fugitives’, sources claimed 14 have been nabbed and taken to the Crime Investigation Agency office for interrogation. One of them was injured in the firing.
A senior police official revealed that two of them refused to cooperate and shouted religious and anti-police slogans.
“They have no remorse and have been saying, they ‘feared no one’ and justified their act of chopping off the hand of an on-duty ASI,” revealed a senior CIA official.
According to Punjab Special Chief Secretary K.B.S. Sidhu, the police maintained decorum while entering Gurudwara and ensured convenience of women and children inside while arresting the accused. While the Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is yet to issue an official statement, Sidhu said the CM had already ordered booking of all accused under appropriate sections of the IPC.
Patiala IG Jatinder Aulakh while talking to The Week confirmed recovery of intoxicants and weapons from the rooms adjacent to the gurudwara.
The incident took place when restrictions are in place in the state because of the coronavirus outbreak.
