Punjab Policeman's Hand Chopped Off With Sword, 2 Injured By Group Flouting Lockdown In Patiala
An Assistant Sub Inspector's hand was chopped off and two other police officials were injured today when a group of people allegedly attacked them in Punjab's Patiala district. Reports say seven people have been arrested so far.
According to a report by PTI, a group of four-five 'Nihangs' (Sikhs armed with traditional weapons and dressed in loose blue tops) were travelling in a vehicle when they were asked to stop at a vegetable market by the Mandi board officials at around 6.15 am.
"They were asked to show (curfew) passes. But they banged the vehicle against the gate and barricades put up there," Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala, Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.
Twitter
The group then attacked the police personnel on duty, he said.
"An Assistant Sub Inspector's (ASI) hand was chopped off by a sword. A Station House Officer of Sadar Patiala and another official suffered injuries on arms in the attack," Sidhu said.
Barbaric. The moment few sick beasts attacked Punjab Police in Patiala and cut off left hand of an ASI Harjeet Singh after breaking Police barricades in lockdown. Attackers fled from the spot and are hiding in Gurudwara. Efforts are on to arrest. This is ATTEMPT TO MURDER 4 cops. pic.twitter.com/Wtt6QfnBD0
¡ª Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) April 12, 2020
The ASI, Harjeet Singh, was rushed to the Rajindra hospital, from where he was referred to PGIMER in Chandigarh.
He is currently undergoing surgery.
The Nihangs fled the scene after the attack, the SSP said. Police said they later took shelter at a gurdwara managed by them in Balbera village of the district.
ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand was cut-off in an attack by a group of Nihangs at Sabzi Mandi, in Patiala (Punjab) today, is undergoing surgery at PGI Chandigarh. As per Punjab Special Secreatry KBS Sidhu, 7 people have been arrested in connection with the incident. pic.twitter.com/8B5zgj0RuB
¡ª ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2020
Highly condemn attack on Police. In this crisis Police, especially Punjab Police is doing a great job. Stringest action should be taken against culprits to send a message that this kind of rowdy behavior will not be tolerated. @capt_amarinder https://t.co/eGYsuc3nb3
¡ª H S Phoolka (@hsphoolka) April 12, 2020
Several teams of police led by Sidhu have been deputed to take the Nihangs out of the premises, they said, adding movement of people around the gurdwara has been stopped.
Punjab Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta described this incident as unfortunate and said the Nihangs would be arrested soon.
"In an unfortunate incident today morning, a group of Nihangs injured a few Police officers and a Mandi Board official at Sabzi Mandi, Patiala. ASI Harjeet Singh whose hand got cut-off has reached PGI Chandigarh," Gupta tweeted.
