TARN TARAN CLASH : Akali councillor among 2 held, SHO suspended

Amritsar/Tarn Taran, With the Punjab BJP mounting pressure on the state government, the Tarn Taran police today arrested former SAD councillor Baljit Singh Gill and party activist Jagwant Singh, besides suspending SHO Nirmal Singh in connection with the recent clash between workers of both the parties.Raja Joshi, brother of Local Bodies Minister Anil Joshi (of the BJP), was allegedly fired at during the attack.Nirmal Singh has been replaced by Gurbhinder Singh. Sources said the SHO had been suspended following the recommendation of the special investigation team (SIT) constituted to probe into the incident.The Tarn Taran police have formed seven teams to nab others involved in the violent clash with the BJP workers. The police have also added attempt to murder charges in the case registered against the SAD workers. The FIR was lodged against 26 Akali workers under Sections 336, 382, 323, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC, besides Sections 25, 27, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act.The BJP had dubbed the case an eyewash, alleging it was a “murderous assault” on the BJP workers.A forensic team visited the spot today. The police had added Section 307 of the IPC (attempt to murder) after the SIT, led by IGP (Border Zone) Ishwar Chander, visited the clash site on Thursday.Reacting to the action initiated by the government, BJP secretary Tarun Chugh said they were “by and large satisfied”, but their demand for the transfer of Tarn Taran SSP Manmohan Kumar Sharma was yet to be addressed. “The party will review the scenario tonight and take a call on the ultimatum served on the government,” he said.Chugh said DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and the IGP had assured them that they would take all possible measures to ensure that such incidents did not recur.Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla today visited the clash site. He was accompanied by Punjab BJP chief Kamal Sharma and Chugh. They met the party workers and took held a meeting with Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner BS Dhaliwal and the SSP.This was followed by a detailed meeting with the SIT officials, comprising Chander, Amritsar Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh and Amritsar (Rural) SSP Jasdeep Singh. The Tarn Taran DC and the SSP were also present.Chander briefed Sampla that the man who had fired shots had been arrested along along with the weapon, and that the rest of the accused would be arrested shortly.Sampla directed the DC and the SSP to ensure that law and order was maintained in the district.In a related development, the SAD and the BJP candidates today filed their nominations papers for the nagar council elections in Tarn Taran. With this, it has become almost clear that the two parties would contest the poll separately.