Two Congress groups clash in Tarn Taran; 6 booked for assault, insulting religious beliefs

Both the parties entered into a brawl over inadequate mid-day meal distribution at Bhikhiwind

The police have booked six members of a group reportedly associated with the Congress for assaulting a Congress worker at Bhikhiwind, on Tuesday. However, the police added Section 295 under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), case for insulting religious beliefs, on Wednesday. Both the groups entered into a brawl over distribution of mid-day meal (MDM) at Bhikhiwind.

The accused are Rajinder Kumar,45, Deepak Kumar,24, Dharminder,35, Sahil Sharma,23, Kuldip Singh,45, of Bhikhiwind and Gurmukh Singh,36, of Sandpura village. (Google maps)

The incident occurred on Saturday but the police failed to register a case as both the groups are associated with the ruling party, said sources. As per the sources the police booked the accused after interference of Sikh organisations,Guru Granth Sahib Satikar Committee and Damdami Taksal .

The accused are Rajinder Kumar,45, Deepak Kumar,24, Dharminder,35, Sahil Sharma,23, Kuldip Singh,45, of Bhikhiwind and Gurmukh Singh,36, of Sandpura village. The complainant, Balwinder Singh, who also fought in nagar panchayat elections on a Congress ticket, last year said, “Few Bhikhiwind government school teachers told me that they have been receiving less quantity MDMs compared to the food allotted for the schools.”

“On Saturday morning, I was travelling on Patti road and noticed a truck which distributes MDM food at the schools,” said Balwinder. “When I asked the truck driver about the inadequate food distribution in the schools, he remained silent.” Later on, the driver called the accused personson the spot, he said. “They came and started thrashing me,” he added. Meanwhile, Balwinder’s wife Jaswinder Kaur with members of Sikh organisations met the Bhikhiwind deputy superintendent of police (DSP), SS Mann, on Tuesday. Kaur demanded action against the accused for assaulting and disrespecting his husband’s religious faiths.

Kaur in her complaint said, “The accused tossed my husband’s turban and pulled his hair.” After that, the police registered a case under Sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 506 (criminal intimidation), 452 (assault or wrongful restraint), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC. All the accused are absconding.

Station house officer (SHO) Kashmir Singh said, “We had added Section 295 on the same day.” But the daily crime report of Tarn Taran police revealed that police had not added the section on Tuesday.