Clash over property: Congress leader Kulbir Zira, kin booked for attempted murder after one injured in firing

Ferozepur police said an FIR was registered against Zira, his paternal uncle Mohinderjeet Singh, his uncle’s son Mehakdeep Singh and their 8-10 accomplices in connection with a clash over property dispute which happened on June 6.

The FIR was registered on based on the complaint of Gurnam Singh whose son Gurlal received a bullet injury after the group led by Mohinderjeet had allegedly opened fire.

The opposite group led by Gurlal allegedly torched an Audi vehicle of Zira’s uncle in which one person suffered minor burn injuries, police said.

Zira Sadar police station SHO Inspector Jagdev Singh said, “Gurnam alleged though Zira was not present on the spot, he was speaking to his uncle on the phone, asking him to take forcible possession of the land as he was there to support them.”

“According to the complainant, Zira said to his uncle ‘kabzaa kar lo, main haiga’ (Take possession, I am there). It’s a matter of investigation. No one has been arrested yet,” said the SHO.

The SHO said the FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Arms Act at Zira Sadar police station.

“It’s still a matter of investigation as to who opened fire in which Gurlal got injured,” the SHO added.

According to police, the dispute over 8 acres and 12 marlas situated in Baggi Padni village between Mohinderjeet and the opposite group goes back to 1982. Both groups clashed violently on June 6 over its possession and Zira’s uncle allegedly opened fire, police said.

Gurlal, who sustained a bullet injury in the leg, was rushed to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Ludhiana, where his condition is stated to be out of danger, police said

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who reached Zira on Tuesday, said police booked Zira even as he wasn’t present on the spot when the clash took place and demanded a fair probe into the matter.

He alleged that a Congress worker suffered burn injuries after the opposite group torched their vehicle but no cross FIR was registered.

“The Congress will gherao the Ferozepur SSP office if the matter isn’t probed fairly,” Warring said.

Ferozepur SSP Saumya Mishra did not respond to repeated calls and messages.

Zira, too, was not available for comment.

However, in a Facebook post on Wednesday, Zira wrote: “Bhavein saadi gall ni hundi, saade bare gallan ho rahiyan han, ehna hi bahut hai (It doesn’t matter if people don’t talk to us, but they are talking about us. That’s enough).”