The pilot vehicle escorting the newly appointed Punjab Cabinet minister Balkar Singh was allegedly attacked by three or four youths in Jalandhar around 1 am Monday. The incident occurred near Ravidas Chowk when the minister was going towards his residence in Mann Nagar, close to Wadala Chowk. According to police sources, the attackers came in a black luxury car without a registration number. The minister’s pilot vehicle tried to overtake the black car but its driver stopped it in the middle of the road. Three or four youths came out of the car, quarrelled with the minister’s gunmen, who asked the youths to give way for the pilot vehicle to pass, and manhandled them, said police sources. They also allegedly manhandled a policeman on duty near Ravidas Chowk and pelted bricks on the pilot vehicle. The minister came out of his vehicle and pacified the youths who were under the influence of liquor, said the police. Even after the minister went to his residence, the youths followed him and quarrelled with his gunmen outside the building, the police added. The minister then called the police and Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police-2 (Jalandhar), Aditya, reached the spot, detained the youths and took their vehicle into custody. Police Commissioner Kuldeep Singh Chahal said the police were investigating the matter and would register a case.
