SAD leaders booked after AAP sarpanch candidate shot at during nomination scrutiny in Punjab’s Jalalabad

Vardev Singh.

Brar is stated to be in critical condition at Ludhiana’s Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. He is contesting the sarpanch election in Muhammade Wala village, also in Jalalabad.

Vardev and Nardev are sons of three-time SAD MP Zora Singh Mann.

The FIR was registered on a complaint of Gurpreet Singh, Harpinder’s rival as the AAP candidate for the sarpanch post in Chak Suhelewala village. Gurpreet complained that he had lodged objections against Harpinder’s nomination and that he was inside the BDO office along with his uncle Shaminder Singh when he was attacked.

Gurpreet alleged that Vardev had aimed the gun at him but the bullet hit Brar, who was standing close to him.

Harpinder was declared an ineligible contestant on Sunday morning as per the report of the returning officer, Kanwarjit Singh, Subdivisional Magistrate, Jalalabad, confirmed to The Indian Express.

Varinder Singh Brar, Senior Superintendent of Police, Fazilka, said, “We have lodged an FIR against Nardev, Vardev Mann and 15-20 unidentified persons on attempt-to-murder and other charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Raids are being conducted to arrest them as they are absconding.”

As per Gurpreet’s statement, he had objected to Harpinder’s nomination, alleging his involvement in a panchayat land dispute pending in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Gurpreet further alleged that Vardev threatened him when he went to file his nomination on Friday.

As per the FIR, Saturday’s clash started inside the BDO office with Vardev and his men pelting stones on the AAP candidate and his supporters.

“Mandeep Singh Brar was operated on last night and is still under observation at the DMCH,” Varinder Singh Brar said.

The AAP has condemned the attack on its candidate. The party’s chief spokesperson, Neel Garg, said, “We condemn the vicious attack on our sarpanch candidate in Jalalabad. Violence has no place in democracy. In the past few days, allegations were being raised on the AAP that our leaders were not allowing others to file nomination papers. On the contrary, rivals were trying to put undue pressure on officials. However, we will not be intimidated by the criminal mindset. I urge the authorities to take strict action in this incident. The AAP stands for peace, development and fairness for all.”

The other charges in the FIR are under BNS and Arms Act sections related to voluntarily causing hurt, threatening gestures to cause physical harm, rioting with deadly weapons and unlawful assembly.

While Nardev lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Ferozepur as an SAD candidate, Vardev unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls from Guru Har Sahai on the party’s ticket in 2012, 2017 and 2022.