Cong, PPP leaders join hands to protest assault on panch

Local leaders of the Congress and People's Party of Punjab (PPP) staged a dharna and blocked traffic for over two hours at Jaura Chhattran village on the Gurdaspur-Kalanaur road, 14 km from here, on Thursday to protest an alleged assault by Akali supporters on the family members of Tarsem Lal who was elected a panch with Congress backing in the morning.

Local leaders of the Congress and People's Party of Punjab (PPP) staged a dharna and blocked traffic for over two hours at Jaura Chhattran village on the Gurdaspur-Kalanaur road, 14 km from here, on Thursday to protest an alleged assault by Akali supporters on the family members of Tarsem Lal who was elected a panch with Congress backing in the morning.

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Police have since registered an FIR under Sections 452 and 323 of the IPC against Amarjit Singh, Ashok Kumar, Baldev, Golu, Soma and other unidentified persons in connection with the attack.

Frustrated over Tarsem's victory, a group of Akali supporters attacked his house early Thursday morning and injured Harish Kumar and Kirpal and their wives Paramjit and Sarbjit, respectively, claimed Punjab Congress leader Raman Bahl and district PPP president Hardyal Singh Gajnipur who led the protesters.

Interestingly, Tarsem was not at home at the time of the alleged attack and spent the night at another villager's house fearing the attack by political rivals.

Senior police officers rushed to the spot and persuaded the protesters to lift the dharna and blockade by promising them action against the assailants.