Firing at Kharar: One injured

The bullet pierced through the right arm of Jasdeep,aged around 30,of Ballomajra village. He was rushed to the Mohali Civil Hospital,from where,after administering first-aid,he was shifted to Kharar Civil Hospital.

It was at around 10.45 am when Chhindi,Jasdeep and Billa came out from a gurdwara and started off in a Toyota Innova. Around a dozen local residents,equipped with firearms,swords,batons and other deadly weapons,intercepted them. “As Chhindi sensed trouble,he immediately put the car in reverse gear,hitting the gurdwara wall in the process,which collapsed; but when we tried to speed away,the assailants opened fire at us,” Jasdeep told police.

Though the assailants fired several rounds from their .12 bore double barrel guns and even sophisticated .762 mm pistols,only a single bullet hit Jasdeep. Chhindi took his profusely bleeding colleague to Mohali Civil Hospital.

Investigating Officer (IO) Inspector Balwinder Singh told Newsline that the assailants,five of whom were identified by Jasdeep as Jagmohan Singh,Nona,Deepa,Talwinder Singh and Gurwinder Singh,were booked for attempt to murder,wrongful restraint,rioting armed with deadly weapons and offences punishable under relevant sections of the Arms Act. However,no arrests were made yet.

Preliminary investigations revealed that both the rival groups were involved in several disputes and had been facing criminal cases on cross complaints. “Today’s clash was also the outcome of their old rivalry,” said the IO,adding that eyewitnesses even said that both the rival groups exchanged fire but since the rival group was absconding,a case was registered on victim’s statement while further proceedings will be initiated as necessitated by further investigations. Four rounds,including two each of .12 bore gun and .762 pistol,were recovered.