Attempt on sarpanch’s life, farm group blames drug mafia

Jalandhar: Bute Dia Chhanna village sarpanch and Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Mohinder Singh was attacked and seriously injured on Saturday morning when he and his wife were going to their fields. He sustained head injuries and was operated on at a private hospital in Jalandhar. Kisan Sabha members and other villagers held a protest outside Mehatpur police station on Saturday and alleged that peddlers attacked the sarpanch as he was asking the police to take action against them.
Jamhoori Kisan Sabha leader Major Singh said the sarpanch was pursuing the police about "chitta" (drugs) being sold in the area. The protestors alleged that the sarpanch even told the police that he would be attacked by the peddlers. They said that police personnel even conveyed to a particular peddler that the sarpanch was seeking action against him, after which the assault happened. "A situation is being created that villagers speaking out against the drug peddlers would face animosity from the peddlers," they said. The protestors on Saturday raised slogans against the Punjab govt and alleged that the situation on ground was contrary to claims made by state govt.Mehatpur police station SHO Pankaj Kumar said that a case for attempt to murder and other offences was registered against 5-6 assailants. CCTV footage from the village revealed that at least five assailants came on two bikes. Villagers alleged that they were the henchmen, while the real culprits behind the attack were different, he said.